This week I attended a great presentation at the Capital Technology Management Hub where Frank Strickland spoke about corporate culture and developing leaders. One of the takeaways for me was “leave space for other leaders.”
The Story
At the end of a long project, the technical lead sent out a notice that the last major milestone of a project was completed on schedule.
I was not the key leader in charge of this effort, and yet I was appreciative of the work that was done by the project team.
When I read the update email, it felt like the project communication was…. incomplete. The project manager recognized his directs and otherwise engaged people on the extended team, and noted all of the relevant facts. It was a solid “status” note, but it lacked the bigger picture that (according to my leader’s intuition) was needed.
I took a moment and drafted a reply to the same crew who had received the original missive, putting some organizational context around the project and thanking the team for their efforts. I think it was a good note.
The Theft
Unfortunately it only occurred to me later that I had stolen something important from another key leader in the organization – the opportunity to do exactly what I had done – except that leader is closer in accountability to the delivery team, and that message would have been more potent and more relevant.
In fact, that leader did take the time to author a significant note to the team leader and the team members. But I had “stolen the thunder” because I was ready to act immediately.
The Lesson
So – let me ask you: Do you give enough space to other leaders to express their leadership, or does your leader’s penchant for action based on your intuition drive you to do what’s “needed?”
If you’re the “only one” who does such things in your organization, perhaps that’s because no one else has been given the room to do it.
Note to self – next time, wait – you can count on other leaders to do great things – if they have room enough to do them!
Thinking strategically about how to let other leaders lead is a key part of “Raising Your Game”
