“How are you justifying the sales and expenses estimates?” the CEO asked. My face glowed red as I stuttered. My heart rate skyrocketed and my throat tightened. I looked at my boss, Valerie. She made eye contact, held a soft gaze, and said nothing.
To Help Your Team Grow, Give Them Space to Struggle
Good managers know when to step in — and when not to.
July 06, 2023
Summary.
When you see an employee struggling with a task you could do easily, it’s only natural to want to step in and help. But from the other side, this can feel more like micromanagement than support. And when leaders over-function by keeping too much work for themselves, they allow those around them to under-function. We all know how important it is to delegate — both to help employees grow and to create a more collaborative, empowered, productive team. How can you get better at this key leadership skill? First, shift from a doer to a leader mindset. Second, embrace the discomfort of the learning process. Third, identify low-stakes tasks that are less risky to delegate. Finally, be curious and facilitative instead of prescriptive.
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Developing Employees Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Developing Employees. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Support and challenge your direct reports to help them reach their potential.
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New!
HBR Learning
Developing Employees Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Developing Employees. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Support and challenge your direct reports to help them reach their potential.