Does my team need me for every task?
Your team looks to you. That does not mean every answer has to come from you.
A short read for your day
The day is full of quick questions. Can you check this? What should we do? Is this good enough? By the end of it, your own work has barely begun.
It can feel good to be needed. It can also leave you tired, short with people, and sure that nothing will move unless you push it.
What does your team need from you? An answer, a clear goal, a bit of trust, or a chance to talk through a problem? Those are not always the same thing.
When you jump in fast, the task may move faster today. But what happens next time? Does the person feel more able to handle it, or more sure they should wait for you?
There are times when you must decide. At other times, you might ask, “What have you tried? What do you think we should do? What do you need from me?”
You may not know the answer either. You could say, “I need to check that. I will come back to you this afternoon.” Then make time to do it.
Notice the work people do without being asked. Name what you saw. “You caught that error before we sent it. Thank you.” Then ask what would help them do the work well.
A team is made of people with lives outside work. You are one of them. When every choice has to wait for you, what happens to their day? What happens to yours?
A question for your day
Which tasks could your team do without waiting for you?
The book behind these questions
Sanjog Aul wrote The Tricycle Way after a hard look at his own life. Read a short scene from the book, meet the author, or find an edition that suits you.