It’s Not Because You’re a Woman…

Summary

• I once worked with a female leader who was fantastic at her job.
• She came to me, frustrated that a colleague, Jimmy, never listened to her or completed tasks she assigned.
• She believed Jimmy's behavior was due to gender bias, as he never seemed to take her seriously.
• I took a step back to assess the situation and noticed a pattern in her behavior.
• She had trained people, including Jimmy, to expect that she would always step in and complete tasks if they didn't do them.
• Instead of it being a gender issue, it was more about her inability to delegate tasks effectively.
• For effective leadership, it is crucial to let team members take responsibility for their tasks and not rescue them by doing the work yourself.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing a few key strategies to maximize your efficiency as a leader and grow personally.

1. Delegation Practice:
Start by assigning tasks clearly and setting expectations for deadlines. Trust your team to handle their responsibilities. Resist the urge to step in and complete tasks for them. This allows both you and your team to grow and develop trust in each other’s abilities.

2. Consistent Follow-Up:
Instead of completing unfinished tasks, set periodic check-ins with your team to track their progress. Use these moments to offer guidance and support if needed but avoid taking over the task.

3. Communication Clarity:
Ensure clarity in your communication. Clearly outline what needs to be done, who will do it, and by when. It's important to be explicit about your expectations to prevent any misunderstandings or assumptions.

4. Reflect and Adjust:
Take time to reflect on your leadership style. Have you been unknowingly jumping in to "rescue" your team? If so, start adjusting by being conscious of these moments and making a mental note to step back and let others handle their tasks.

5. Empower Your Team:
Empower team members by encouraging them to take ownership of their work. Praise and acknowledge their contributions when they meet or exceed expectations. This builds their confidence and reinforces their competence.

By focusing on these low-cost, high-value strategies, you can enhance your leadership effectiveness and foster a more responsible and empowered team environment. Remember, effective leadership is about enabling others to achieve their best, while you provide the guidance and support they need.

Full Transcript

I had a female in the workplace and she was a female leader and she was truly an exceptional human so fantastic at her job she came to me one day and she said you know what Jimmy over here isn't listening to me he never does what I say he never helps me on these things he never finishes the tasks he never completes any of these things and honestly Leila I think it's because I'm a woman I took a step back because obviously anytime you hear that in the workplace it's like oh wow okay so we're we're thinking that there's gender bias here but then I looked at Jimmy and I looked at her I asked her I said you've actually just conditioned people and trained people to acknowledge that when you ask them to do something and they don't do it you just do it for them and so what if it's not that Jimmy disrespects you because you're a woman what if it's that you've trained Jimmy by the fact that the first time that he ever didn't do what you asked you just did it for him instead she lacked the ability to truly delegate tasks because she would just end up jumping in rescuing people