Let It Go!
“The art of leadership is knowing when to get out of the way, and when to lead the way.”
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Let It Go!
Earlier today I received an email from a colleague the contents of which had me pondering whether to let it go, push back or pick up the phone and pacify. Although these are the kinds of choices leaders face on a daily basis, it’s not always obvious which to choose.
Whilst it’s true that in the early days of a startup almost every problem is the founder’s problem to solve, as the company grows and we recruit people to manage tasks, there are many times when we need to just learn to ‘let it go’.
I find that the following three thoughts help me make the right choice at the right time:
- Jump in if the problem could impact company reputation or is mission critical
- Let it go if it poses a useful learning opportunity for your team and if your ego feels wounded – in which case it’s important to resist the temptation to react in defence. Now is the time to pause, breathe and let it go, and thirdly
- Pick up the phone whenever you are dealing with complex or emotionally charged matters, and especially where miscommunication would make the problem worse, rather than solving it!
So, this week I’m wishing us both the power to make the right choices, at the right time. The art of leadership is knowing when to get out of the way, and when to lead the way so do share your own wisdom on how you navigate this tricky aspect of being a business leader.
