Managers as mentors
Why don’t we, as leaders, teach/mentor/coach more at work? Don’t get me wrong — I want to enable my reports to drive and steer on their own. But we accumulate so much knowledge, expertise and experience just to then.. sit on it??? That can’t be right.
I get so many questions from my team members. And mostly, I try to enable them to answer these questions themselves. By activating their thinking, their resources and/or by researching themselves.
But often, they need clear advice. Clear guidance. Methodology. And the odd story of failure so that they know that I didn’t fall from the sky as I am now.
I have held leadership learning sessions. Done coaching on how to tackle tricky situations. Mentored through projects and initiatives. Shared advice, sometimes the same advice 20 times in a row — because people have never heard it and it’s so essentially useful.
And still continue to ask myself how I can tailor the information best to everyone, at which time, volume, pace and medium.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Or better said: they STILL invest time into the development of their reports. And not just by outsourcing this to courses and other people. Time and dedication invested gives immediate return, and is the most worthwhile investment. Not to mention that a team member who knows they will get dedication is dedicated in return!
What are we waiting for?
