If you want to optimise your business' growth and productivity then it is essential that you prioritise the empowerment of your staff through trusting and skilful delegation.
It will leverage the diversity of skills that your team has - many of which can otherwise go unused. Also, it will foster innovation, improved morale, and staff development, creating a virtuous cycle.
So many leaders, at every level, struggle with effective delegation, with most of those failing to realise they are not doing it well/at all. An independent and supportive pair of eyes can be invaluable, and this is perhaps one of the most common areas that Coaches find they are addressing with their clients.
I try to meet with, virtually or in person, lots of my business and coaching contacts, and I find this an effective way of keeping up to date with the latest relevant issues. It also helps to ‘ground’ me and encourage me to check in with my own work and approach. Along the way I have lots of discussions about leadership which inevitably entails wildly differing views and opinions.
Out of the proliferation of remote work during and after COVID, a new challenge for organisations has emerged: many important skills are not easily, or cannot be, nurtured through screens. In the traditional office environment, the subtle yet powerful process of learning osmotically plays a critical role. Leaders model behaviours, and employees, often subconsciously, absorb crucial skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and intuitive decision-making. Even resilience can be enhanced through witnessing other people’s coping mechanisms.
Reflecting on what I feel makes a leader truly great, I realise that leadership is generally misunderstood. It should not be about rank or authority;