Did you know that most leaders are directive?
That means: they have a top-down, command-and-control style.
And many are this way without even knowing it.
Here’s why—these leaders are responsible.
Yes, that’s a good thing!
It’s their job to problem-solve. The buck stops with them, and they know it. They want to get results.
Because of this sense of urgency and ownership, these leaders often tell, direct, and instruct their team based on what THEY think is best.
The motive for this is good.
BUT, the effect is that these leaders will eventually become the bottleneck for their team, because the team feels the need to go to the boss for instructions, answers, and permission…for everything.
Long-term…this limits a leader’s reach, their team’s ability to problem solve, and lastly, the team’s ability to get results!
So, how do we fix this?
The answer lies in a leader’s ability to be a COACH-APPROACH leader—the ability to facilitate and coach, rather than tell and direct.
To coach and facilitate, you:
Create self-awareness
Ask questions at a deeper level—with curiosity, and without assumptions or judgments
Create space for team members to contribute
Allow them to find their own answers with their leader as a partner and guide
Equip them to take ownership
When leaders realize how much their teams are capable of, coaching and facilitating will not only become your go-to approach, you’ll experience less stress from feeling like you need to “do it all” and “drive the result.”