Do you define yourself as the boss or a leader? Giving space for employees to make mistakes, have unique ideas and problem solve is germane to the productivity of your company.
It is true perhaps as a manager that you may get to the solution faster if you were in charge. And perhaps your solution may even be more ideal. However as a leader, your job is to guide, coach and mentor your team.
It may be one of the hardest if not the hardest lessons to learn. Emerging and new leaders are usually challenged by the need to step back and empower teams. The motivation to stay in charge may have to do with the need for control, lack of trust or striving for perfection.
Whatever it may be, think about why you assembled your team? I would assume you did not select or promote employees who are mediocre.
You must recognise that there are people who may have better ideas than your own. Fostering collaboration fuels innovation. If you don’t take your hands off the steering wheel employees will be stilted, will be afraid to make mistakes and won’t feel trusted.
The end result is the creation of a culture of individual contributors not a top tier team that is known for raising the bar and adding tremendous value.
