“If it’s not your turn to cook, then stay out of the kitchen!”
Today I realised for a moment that I didn’t have enough to do! I found myself fiddling with other people’s work, being overly critical and displaying the dreadful traits of a seasoned micromanager!
What happened? Have I built a team that really doesn’t need me any more? Is it time to call founders’ privilege and take more time off work, or did I simply lose sight of the critical and strategic tasks on my own to-do list and lean into the familiar tasks of the past? Tasks that are no longer mine to do?
As a business matures, these are real questions. You have built a good second (and even third) layer of managers below you, and the business, for the most part, runs smoothly. That team really enjoys the ability to fully flex their skills and bring their full talents to the table. Yes, they wish you would take a holiday!
That’s option A. Option B is that there are critical and strategic tasks on your own to-do list that you have ignored. Did you forget to check it? Are things quiet at the CEO’s desk because you have stopped doing what you are paid to do – those important, often tricky, strategic moves…
Sound familiar?
This week is a bit of a pep talk to myself, which may land with you as well (or you can forward it to your boss if he/she needs this!).
Rule number one: Tend to your own to-do list. Tackle the difficult tasks on that list and pay special attention to critical and strategic tasks, which is where your true value lies.
Rule number two: If it’s not your turn to cook, then stay out of the kitchen. Take a walk, take a holiday, learn a new skill. Do anything to stop yourself micro-managing and irritating others – they deserve better!
