I saw a great Tweet by David Allen, sharing excellent advice he once received: “Don’t tell me what to do. Tell me what I’m missing.” This is fantastic advice for leaders working with their teams.
Often, we talk about not just giving out answers. When your team brings you a problem, it’s easy to want to jump in with the answer. We’re problem-solvers by nature, and we want to help. I know I do this too much myself.
Instead, we should ask, “What do you think?” or “How would you approach it?” Don’t jump in right away; listen to their solution. This is how you can really add value as a leader.
If needed, add the pieces they may have missed based on your experience. That’s how a leader helps. And if you do add something, explain why it matters. I’m big on explaining the why. That’s how you teach. This kind of hands-on coaching is the best training someone can get; it’s more powerful than any leadership class.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Those classes and tools like LinkedIn Learning are great. They help build a solid foundation. However, real growth comes from working through real-life situations together. That’s the kind of learning that sticks and lasts a lifetime.
