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Surprisingly, sometimes solving a problem is the worst thing you can do. As a manager, your success is measured by the success of your team. Your goal, however, is to empower your team to do the actual delivery and not for you to provide all the solutions of the day-to-day work.
A good test and measurement for this is simple: Take a vacation! When you come back, check on all the topics that were waiting for you and make it a priority to empower your team to solve them without you!
As a manager, it's tempting to jump in and solve every problem that comes your way. However, it's vital to discern which problems are best handled by you and which are opportunities for your team's growth. One common anti-pattern is solving problems that others were tasked with, inadvertently undermining their confidence and effectiveness.
Imagine a team member is working on streamlining a project timeline, unsatisfied with their progress you swoop in with your own solution. This not only takes away their ownership but sends a message that you believe they are incompetent.
If you identify a problem that a team member is currently grappling with, your role is to assist them in finding a solution, not take over the task. Focus on providing guidance, resources, and support to help them navigate challenges.
Ask relevant questions rather than providing solutions whenever possible.
If a team member is struggling with a task because they aren't sufficiently familiar with a workflow: Instead of providing them with the solution and berating them for not reading the available documentation, ask them: "Which documentation have you already consulted, so that we may update it?". Offer insights and strategies without overshadowing their efforts.
Afterward, make sure to acknowledge their contribution when the problem is resolved.
One of the greatest pitfalls in management is inadvertently making your team members feel inadequate by taking over tasks they were attempting to solve. While your goal is to address challenges, your overarching mission is to enable and grow your direct reports.
Suppose a team member has delivered a task that is not quite up to your expectations. If you step in and fix it without allowing them the opportunity to learn, you risk stifling their development and diminishing their confidence.
Instead, you may ask them: "How do you think we could improve this, if we had a little more time?" or "The solution works great, but currently it's a little slow. How could we make it faster?"
Solving the wrong problems can have profound consequences. It not only hinders your team's growth but erodes trust and confidence. Team members may feel undervalued, demotivated, and reluctant to take ownership of tasks in the future.
If you find yourself overloaded with delivering tasks or constantly being the highest value individual contributor, ask yourself: "Am I solving the wrong problems?"
Effective leadership is not just about solving problems; it's about creating an environment where your team can thrive. Supportive leadership involves understanding when to step back and allow your team members to grapple with challenges, offering guidance and encouragement along the way.
Instead of solving a client issue for a team member, guide them on effective communication strategies. Acknowledge their efforts in resolving the problem, reinforcing their capabilities.
Some issues may be urgent, or exceed the current capabilities of your direct report. Do not insist on avoiding providing a solution just to follow a principle. Use your judgment and discern between an opportunity to help someone grow versus setting them up for failure.
Should you need to intervene do not do it on your own, join the team member (at their desk if applicable) and work on the task together. Allow them to be part of the process and collaborate.
In conclusion, the mark of a great manager lies in discernment—the ability to identify which problems to solve and which to delegate for team growth.
By avoiding the pitfalls of taking over tasks and fostering a culture of empowerment, you cultivate a team that not only solves problems but thrives in the face of challenges.
Finally, remember, take a vacation and test how well you did in solving the right problems!
