Posted by: Jonena Relth, President and Leadership Evangelist, TBD Consulting, Inc.
Have you ever wondered why people just expect "leaders" to have all the answers? Well, let me tell you: We don't! That's why successful leaders surround themselves with professionals who have the skill sets they don't have.
Example: Ask me most anything about how to "fix" an employee performance issue and I go into autopilot. Because of 20+ years of experience, the answers flow without my even having to think that hard.
However, this past week, I moved and was bombarded with questions from friends, family and professional movers for what to put where, how, etc. It didn't take me long to become totally overwhelmed and want to cry out, "Calgon, take me away." (Ok, so that just dated my TV commercial memories!) Luckily I'm a Type A personality who when under stress, goes into delegation mode. The leader in me took over and started assigning tasks to different people with the proper skill sets to accomplish the tasks laying before us in boxes and bubble wrap. Some arranged furniture, some put the kitchen together, some built shelving, some put the bedrooms and bathrooms together, and one awesome person, my daughter, worked on the techy stuff like Internet, phones, satellite TV, etc.
Whew! Things went much smoother when I got out of the way and let people do what they do best. All I had to do was direct the movers where to put the boxes and furniture!
Three days of exhausting work and practicing what I preach for transparent leadership, my new digs are livable and most rooms even have pictures on the walls. This would never have happened had I not surrounded myself with talented people, discussed expectations and limits and let the people work.
Lessons Learned: The thought of moving again brings chills down my spine, but I do know that I need to ELIMINATE a lot of stuff! I didn't think I was much of a "saver," but the movers even thought I had a bit too much stuff for a 5-foot lady to be carting around the country. Yeah, and the fact that the garage is still full of boxes and sitting where my car should be, is a big hint, too!
I'll bring in more "experts" to help me sift through the boxes and make a generous donation to the Goodwill. I'm thinking this non-profit and I are going to be best of friends! Oh, and yes, TRANSPARENT LEADERSHIP WORKS!
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