As a leader, you play an essential role in helping others in a way that doesn’t rob them of their autonomy and ownership (micromanaging) or leave them wondering what they’re supposed to do next (under-leading). Harvard Business Review’s Deborah Grayson Riegel offers some tips for doing this effectively.
Here’s what micromanaging a plan might sound like:
Your direct report: “I need to be more consistent logging my calls to have better data for customer follow-up. Can you help me?”
You: “That sounds like a smart idea. I’m happy to help. Here’s what to do… [insert your plan here]. You might want to take some notes.”
This approach doesn’t leave space for your report’s resourcefulness, creativity, or ownership.
In contrast, under-leading might sound like this:
Your direct report: “I need to be more consistent logging my calls to have better data for customer follow-up. Can you help me?”
You: “That sounds like a smart idea. I’m happy to help. My door is always open.”
While you may be offering an open-door policy to avoid over-leading, you’re not helping them shift from goal to action.
Consider this approach instead:
Your direct report: “I need to be more consistent logging my calls to have better data for customer follow-up. Can you help me?”
You: “That sounds like a smart idea. I’m happy to help. What do you think could help you be more consistent?”
In the book, Go to Help: 31 Ways to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help, Sophie Riegel and Deborah Riegel share ten questions to ask others to help them think through their plan:
- Get specific: “What are you planning to do next?”
- Get positive: “What’s already working for you in this process?”
- Get buy-in: “What’s the opportunity here?”
- Get resourceful: “What else do you need to move forward?”
- Get realistic: “What do you need to stop doing to move forward with this?”
- Get collaborative: “Who else do you need to talk with/work with/align with?”
- Get mental: “What’s your current mindset?”
- Get tracking: “How will you measure progress?”
- Get prioritizing: “What step, if done first, will make other steps easier?”
10. Get on board: “How else can I help?”