Letting go of responsibility is not something that comes natural for me.
I score high on Command in the StrengthsFinders assessment.
I have to discipline myself to let go…
And still…if no progress is taking place…I will make something happen…I promise.
The problem is that when I take over and refuse to let others in the organization lead…even at the risk that they will not complete it on my time schedule or the way I might have done it:
- I keep myself from doing other things
- I fail to provide growth opportunities for others.
- I limit the organization from reaching it’s full potential
Leaders, if you believe in the concept of teamwork…sometimes you have to let go and let others take the lead.
What do you need to let go of and quit trying to control?
I know…I know…it’s hard to do. Leave me a comment…It will help hold you accountable.
(To read my StrengthsFinder, click HERE. For more on the subject of delegation, click HERE AND HERE.)
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As a teacher, my job is to give my students opportunity to shine. I encourage them to be assertive and to challenge me if they have real concerns, thus they become partners with me in their education.
True leadership is not about the leader, but about the goal. And, true leadership is not about control, but about results.
Your on my thought wave…you'll read similar thoughts in tomorrow's post! Thanks!
Its good to giving chances leadership to some one else…….
Thanks for the post…
Thanks!
What’s been helpful for me is that God placed me under the leadership of someone who does not delegate. He showed me what type of leader I could end up being in the future if I don’t change. It helped me to see that being a leader is more about helping others on to greatness (and replacing yourself) than getting the task done.
Melissa, I know many people that learned how to parent or do marriage this way…by not duplicating their experience. Great advice! Thanks for sharing.
Ugh! I have to ask myself this question EVERY day. I'm a very high D on DISC and Achiever on Strengths Finder. Kind of a nasty combination if you work for me and don't share that intensity. God is continually challenging me on letting go of control… it's the "lid" on my leadership a lot of times.
Jenni I agree. I score high on Acheiver too. I think the key for people like us is to change our focus from the tasks that need to be completed to the overall purpose we are trying to complete. When I look at it from that angle my energies move more towards developing others, creative thinking, etc.
BTW. I think you are an awesome leader.
Not that I've worked in an organization or anything of substantial importance, but speaking from the limited experience I do have… if the people working for you are like you in your desire to complete and accomplish, they will appreciate your personality. For me, if I know the person I'm working for is putting in as much time as me, and expecting me to produce more or better than I expect of myself, I'm more willing to put fourth my best effort.
I would enjoy working for someone like you!
I would hire you any day!
Sometimes God wants a project to come out less than if we would have stepped in and done it. Are we trusting in Him or ourselves? In God's economy, many times less is more. I don't know if I made sense. Thanks for the post, Ron.
Yes. It makes good sense. Thanks for sharing.
Ron,
I started delegating better when I began understanding and embracing my frailties and honoring other's strengths. Now I am all about finding people who have more skill than I have.
When it comes to delegating, I think we should delegate vision before tasks because it gives meaning to the work.
There's another way to describe delegating. It's get out of the way.
http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/g…
Thank you for giving back to the community,
Leadership Freak
Dan Rockwell
Dan I always love your insight. You are right. People are more likely to get behind a vision than a task. Good stuff