Stop Being the Hero and Let Your Managers Actually Lead

By Monday afternoon, most managers have already given away the best part of their week.

You start the day with a few important priorities in mind, then old habits kick in. You spend the morning responding to emails. You answer quick questions that could have been thought through or deferred to another leader. You jump in because it feels faster than letting someone else figure it out.

If every day this week looks like that, you’ll stay the hero and your team will stay dependent.

Pick one situation in the next few days where you will stay in coach mode instead. Ask what they have already tried. Ask what they would do if you weren’t available. Help them think instead of replacing their thinking.

It probably will feel slower in the moment. It’s also how you start to get your time back and build your leadership bench.

So ask yourself, where is one place this week you can stop being the hero and let someone else build their judgment?