Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

It's only natural that owners and managers feel 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.