Avoid This if You Have a Franchise
Summary
Start giving people problems as opportunities. Every time I solve a problem myself, I take away a chance for someone else to learn and grow.
I always look at my tasks and think about which problems I can delegate to team members. By spending an hour teaching someone, they gain a skill and I get more free time.
Recently, I had a one-on-one conversation about this. Someone on our team didn't respond to a problem because they believed the person could solve it. And they did, in just an hour.
- When team members come to me with problems, I sometimes don't address them right away. Often, by the time I check, they've already figured it out. This shows they don't always need to ask me and that I've maybe reinforced them too much to rely on me for solutions.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing the strategy of viewing problems as opportunities for growth. When a problem arises, instead of solving it yourself, delegate it to a team member. This not only frees up your time but also helps them develop new skills.
A good way of doing this is by analyzing your tasks daily. Identify which ones you can spend an hour teaching someone else. By doing this consistently, your team becomes more capable, and you have more time to focus on high-priority tasks.
Another easy action is to practice delayed responses. When a team member comes to you with a problem, don't jump to respond immediately. Often, you’ll find they solve it on their own. This builds their confidence and reduces the burden on you.
Additionally, have one-on-one conversations with your team about this approach. Explain the benefits and encourage them to take on challenges without always seeking approval. It's a simple strategy that can lead to significant growth for both the individual and the team.
Lastly, regularly reflect on whether you’re reinforcing a habit of dependency. If someone consistently comes to you with problems they can solve, gently push them towards finding solutions independently.
By implementing these strategies, you foster an environment where everyone grows, and you become more effective as a leader. This approach is low-cost, requires minimal time, and yields high-value results for personal and team growth.
Full Transcript
start giving people problems as opportunities every time that we decide to solve a problem we steal an opportunity from somebody else who's never had the opportunity to solve that problem I always look at it like what problems exist on my plate that with an hour of my time I could teach somebody else to solve it and then they could gain a skill and I could get it off my plate I was literally having this conversation I one-onone like two hours ago with somebody on our team they were saying I knew that this person could figure it out so I didn't respond and what do you know they figured it out in an hour and so someone will message me with the problem I don't even see it by the time I get to it it's 45 minutes later oh I already solved it do you really need to ask me or have I just reinforc you too much for bringing me problems
