Need More Time at Work? Develop Your People!

As a leader, your primary responsibility is to execute on the goals of the organization while inspiring your team members to excellence.


Some leaders seem to get confused and think they are personally responsible for executing on the goals so they work extremely long hours while their team members put in minimal effort and have minimal motivation.  Your goal should be to develop your team members to the point that they don't need you.


"What??!! You ask!  Don't need me?  Then I won't have a job! "


This way of thinking is amazing to me.  There are many, many leaders who seem to believe if they impart too much knowledge on an employee that makes them (i.e. the leader) less valuable.  Let me provide an alternative perspective.


If you are THAT good as a leader, so good that your people are developing, growing, thriving, passionate, energized, and capable, don't you think your organization is going to want to find another role for you?  I can tell you it is a rare leader that is that good.  If you accomplish this goal, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you.


The question then becomes how do I develop my people?  And following is a very brief list of how to get started.

1.  Involve them in the process.  Ask your employees what tasks they would like to be doing.  Ask them where they would like to be professionally in five years. And then set your sights on finding a way to help them get there.
2.  Utilize alternative work assignments.  Projects and different tasks are an excellent way to develop others.
3.  Let go.  This is a big one.  In order to develop others you have to give some of your work up.  Delegate more.  Quit trying to do it all.  Let them make a few mistakes (within reason of course) and focus on learning from them.  

If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything.
 I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.

John Wooden

4.  Encourage your employees to take on more than they know they can.  You are the leader and part of your job is to bring out the best in your people.  This often requires bringing out the parts in them they don't even know exist.  Have confidence and challenge them to excel.  


By taking a few steps in the direction of development your life could become so much easier.  It does require you to let go, trust, and spend more time developing others than doing the work yourself.  


Mari