Empowering your team is a good thing, and everyone keeps telling you to do it? The basics are straightforward, but the implementation can be a real challenge. There are 3 basic steps: put your team in a position to make decisions, teach them how to make the right decisions, and then stay out of the way.
Following these steps will get your team to a position of being prepared to make decisions on their own that are in the best interest of the organization. The next thing you have to do is to make sure that you aren’t stopping them.
One of the most harmful things you can do as the leader of a team you are trying to empower is to correct a decision they’ve made that isn’t obviously badly wrong.
You can minimize the need for corrections in a couple of ways. First, realize that just because a decision differs from what you would have done, it isn’t necessarily a bad one. If the team decision really would work, but it’s just not the way you would have done it, then don’t say anything.
Second, not all mistakes should be corrected. Ask yourself what the consequences are of going in the wrong direction. If they aren’t particularly injurious, your team may be best served by experiencing a failure. Experience is the very best teacher, and often leads straight to heart-learning.
Third, take care with the kinds of decisions that you encourage others to make. Make sure that you aren’t delegating authority on decisions related to things about which you alone have all the information, contacts, context, or perspective needed to make the right decision. Either educate your team so that they are prepared to make these decisions, or keep them for yourself.
This post is inspired by material in the book, The Only Trait of a Leader.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
Sign up to receive Careers Resource Alerts
Recommend This
