So stop and think about your own behavior for a minute. How do you manage? Do you ask questions encouraging contributions from everyone? Or, do think you have to provide all the answers?

My management style & leadership capabilities have developed over the years, as I learn more & realize the limitations & strengths of certain management techniques.    The shift has been one of high control to inclusiveness & shared responsibility, mostly learned through trial by error & reflection.

In the former case, a management style of high control more closely resembles one where I thought I had to provide all the answers. In situations when I didn’t have the answer I felt uncomfortable, weak, & unprepared. Truth is, I didn’t have all the answers. I still don’t. No one does.

When I thought I needed all the answers I also thought I needed to be involved & leading every process. Truth is, that doesn’t work sustainably. There are only so many hours in a day & sleep is really important. When I hit a wall I was shocked into change. I realized that I couldn’t know all the answers nor do everything if my business were to succeed.

Step into my current management behavior. I ask questions. I have some answers, but not all of them. I share responsibility. I take responsibility. Delegate isn’t a foreign word. I am not involved in every process.

Contribution from everyone far outdoes one person’s effort.  Diversity of opinion, shared work load, differences in perspective are just a few of the result benefits.

I still have a lot to learn. Getting feedback as a manager isn’t always easy, as even 360 reviews have their limitations. Understanding each other & encouraging everyone on the team to participate is a great start.  Recognizing I don’t have all the answers was the first step for me to taking a more inclusive management approach…& a lot more gets done too!

Do you think you have all the answers?  Think again. Question yourself. Ask more questions. Let others contribute. It works wonders!

Venture on,

mel, the venture gal