Ask more, answer less.
It feels good to be the go-to person. Any time someone hits a roadblock or has a challenge they come to us to tell them what to do.
Short term this looks and feels like good leadership. We feel like we’re needed, problems get solved quickly and work continues.
However, this gets in the way of teams and organisations achieving true high performance.
When people look to us for the solution, they don’t need to think critically, problem solve or find answers themselves.
This leads to:
- “Hollow” teams that perform only when the leader is there. Once you leave, the team and performance collapse.
- A lack of innovation and diverse thinking since everything comes through you.
- A revolving door into your office.
Real leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about building a culture where people don’t wait to be lead. They lean in, take ownership, and figure it out.
Resist the urge to solve the problem and start by asking questions:
- What do you think we should do?
- What options have you considered?
- What’s stopping you from actioning this now?
It can feel lazy and slower. But what you’re doing is building confidence, capability, and resilience in your team.
You’re developing people who can lead without you.
