If I had a dime for every time I'd heard the sentence, "I get caught up in the day-to-day, so I don’t get to focus on the long-term stuff we need to grow", I'd fly first class every time.
If this sentence resonates with you, you're not alone.
The biggest key for getting out of the day-to-day isn't actually delegation (collective gasp).
It's fostering autonomous ownership within your team.
Let me say that again.
If you want to get out of the day-to-day, you can't just manage your team. You need to create a culture of ownership.
The way to do this is to delegate decision-making.
Here's how:
Establish clear expectations and boundaries for their role.
Give them an understanding of where you need to be consulted or informed.
Trust them to make decisions and mistakes.
Never take a task back. Instead, guide them through improving it.
Have a container for consistent feedback without micromanaging (a weekly team meeting is a good way to do that).
Imagine this: You're the captain of a plane. Without autonomous ownership of your crew, even minor decisions cause you to have to leave the cockpit and break your focus, slowing down the journey.
Now, picture this: You've delegated decision-making to your capable crew members, each empowered to handle specific aspects. When they encounter challenges within the pre-defined boundaries, they have the autonomy to navigate and make informed choices without having to call you away from the most important task of flying the plane.
Implement this and see how this one simple step moves you out of the weeds and into the cockpit.
I'm rooting for you, Captain.
<3
Summer