Leadership is about helping others to thrive…it isn’t about you and making the right decisions! Some of the best results have come from when I am really leading and not doing…when I have stepped back, when I have said no (instead of overcommitting myself) and mostly when I have trusted my team to own their work (and not micromanaging them).
I used to love to empower my team members to “handle” something their way or to make the “decision” themselves. Then I had to truly do it…to empower them, to believe in their abilities, to respect their decisions and to watch them grow. By really doing this, I was giving them the signals that they needed.
Boundaries are another way that we as leaders can send the right signals. “I’m not available” or “I’m not going to make this decision, you are” continues to not only protect my priorities but to show them that they are part of the success. My focus is to drive results for our business…not just be busy!
There will still be challenges that need to be overcome but when that happens instead of solving it, we can help them to re-focus and determine what should be done to fix it. As leaders, that helps our team learn both problem-solving and accountability. It’s also about empowerment…critical thinking and taking ownership are key!
Let’s jump right into the first 2 sentences that should belong in our vocabulary. First up is “I can’t take that on right now”. I will be honest with you, I have a really hard time saying no. I know that I am not the only one as most of us want to be helpful. We want to pitch in, support our team, and avoid being seen as selfish or uncooperative.
But is saying no selfish? I would challenge you to think that maybe it’s a strategic move. Do you really want to take on one more thing that might compromise the quality of something that you have already committed to? By saying no, you may spread yourself too thin, risk burnout, miss deadlines and even lose some impact. It may be kinder to yourself to say no instead of yes!
By saying no, you may be protecting our priorities and making sure you can deliver on what matters most. When you say yes, make sure it truly means yes and that you have both the capacity and attention that you need to follow through. As leaders, having healthy boundaries sends a message to our teams: that it’s essential to protect our time and energy. This creates a culture where success is possible and where people can perform at their best without sacrificing their well-being.
The second sentence that should be part of your vocabulary is “That decision is yours to make, not mine”. Delegation is one of the hardest things in leadership. Don’t view delegation about lightening your workload, instead view it as trust! When you hand over the decision-making process to someone else, the message you are sending is “I believe in your judgment”. This tells your team member that they have the skills, insight, and perspective to make the call…without you looking over their shoulder.
This is also trust and helps their growth. Conversely, when we micromanage, we can stifle their growth. The other consideration is that running every choice and every decision through you, the team waits for direction instead of thinking independently. They may hesitate, second-guess themselves and ultimately stifle the project and innovation that you need.
When you truly give up ownership (not just the tasks but the authority to make a decision) you inspire confidence. You will find that your team steps up and that they take responsibility for the outcome. They learn from both success and the mistakes (yes there will be mistakes). This transition also helps them to become stronger and more capable leaders.
So when you say “the decision is yours to make, not mine” make sure you really mean it and remember it is you stepping aside to let them step forward. That is truly building a team that doesn’t just work for you but thrives with you!
