The People Doing the Work: A Leadership Pet Peeve
It’s a pet peeve of mine in leadership.
I once had a boss who told me how to do my sales meetings with my department. He wasn’t going to be at the meeting. He didn’t know the people on my team. He was holding me accountable for results in sales, not in organizational leadership, but yet he continually gave me the script for meetings as he thought they should be led. I had to turn in reports, which indicated I had followed his agenda.
I hated it. And, when I could, I secretly altered things and scripted my own way. Maybe it was rebellion…okay, it was rebellion, but…
I never thought he was practicing good leadership.
As a leader…
If you aren’t going to be doing the work, don’t script how it’s done.
You can share your thoughts and ideas…
You can share what you want accomplished…
You can give input…
You can monitor progress…
You can even hold people accountable for progress…
But the people who are actually at the meetings…
Doing the work…
Carrying out the plans…
Getting their hands dirty…
Should determine how the work gets completed.
There, I feel better.
Any questions?
