It's only natural that owners and managers fe
el that the business can't run without them, especially in the early stages.
But is it really true?
It's a mark of a good mentor to skill their staff and trust them to do their jobs. Lillie Ammann wrote about this some time ago, and her post has always stuck with me.
Background:
Lilllie Ammann is a very experienced and talented editor and writer. Years ago, she owned her own landscaping business.
Situation:
Lillie wanted to come up with a way to counter chaotic mornings. These always seemed to start in problem solving mode, with staff asking her advice the moment she walked in the door.
Solution:
Lillie explains her solution
So I told my staff I would no longer be at work at 8 AM. They could deal with the morning chaos, and I’d be in an hour later, when things were beginning to settle down.
If they had a true emergency and needed me, they could call me at home, but I wanted them to handle the routine crises of each day.
Result:
Well, I think you can guess this. The staff took more responsibility and became more confident and skilled in the process. Lillie gave staff a safety net of knowing they could call her if they really needed to, but she also gave herself a break from the hectic morning chaos.
Down the track, having a staff who can run the business in your absence gives you more freedom to attend to other things - personal or business related.
Reflection:
It's about trust too, and staff are a great resource for ideas and moving your business forward. Giving them more responsibility is often a way to motivate your staff and to show you value them.
- I'd love to hear your experiences of giving staff more freedom and responsibility or how you felt as an employee.
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