How to Lead Even When You’re Not Doing Anything
Leadership is not always about ‘leading the way’ or ‘showing them how it’s done.’ Sometimes you have to lead without, technically, doing anything at all. Yes, there is work to be done, but you are not the one who should be doing it. That’s why you have a team in the first place.
This concept is often expressed in a different way. Managers and owners are warned about getting in the way of progress, of “micromanaging” or lording over their employees. There’s the caricature of the boss who finds fault just because he has to feel like he’s contributed to the process. Everyone loves those people, right?
Here’s the thing, all that advice about getting out of the way is great, but none of it actually explains what you should be doing. And, if you’re anything like every other entrepreneur out there, idle hands can’t help but tinker. You need a purpose, and you need a reason. The good news is, even when ‘it’s not your job’ you still have important work to do.
Lead by Example
There will never be a time when you will not be an example. Let’s put that another way: your people will always look to you for their cues on office culture, mindset, and priorities. If you do not exude those expectations and qualities in all you say and do, that will lead to confusion in the workplace and strife among your team. They need to have a baseline of behavior and expectations. As the owner or leader, you provide that baseline…even if you are not trying to.
There’s more to being an example than just the way you carry yourself. Have a plan, understand each step of the process and admit your mistakes. Listen to solid advice, accept new information and be willing to make changes when you need to. If you resist these standards, so will your people. But if you live by these standards, they will understand, intuitively, that you expect that of them as well.
Learn to Delegate
Once you have established your expectations and set an example of what “good” means in appearance, approach, and comportment, it’s time to delegate. Truly delegate. Give people a job and, yes, Get Out Of Their Way. If you want something done in a certain way for a good reason, communicate both that way and that reason. It may stroke your ego to go behind someone and “fix” something, but that’s a waste of everyone’s time. You have better things to do, and your employee is frustrated because you failed to properly lead.
Delegation is vital because there will come a time when you will not be able to manage everything even if you want to. Ask yourself, at that moment, would you rather worry that something isn’t getting done to your standards, or would you want to know — by experience — that your people will get it done right the first time?
If you prefer the latter, the time to set that up begins long before the moment you realize you literally can’t get it all done yourself.
Roman Temkin is a real estate developer from NYC.