“All in or not in at all.” Early in my career, this was my approach to getting involved in projects or assignments. If I could not have control, then I put as much distance between the engagement and myself as possible. My rationale was that I did not want recognition or blame for an outcome I could not influence. The sad truth was that I trusted only myself.
Over time, I learned to cede control and put my faith in others. Doing so is an essential ingredient to leadership. As a leader, you must be “all in” with your people regardless of how big or small a role you may play on an assignment. You must celebrate their successes and take responsibility when things don’t go as planned. If you want your people to be “all in” with you then they must know you have their backs 100% of the time, no matter what.
To this day I sometimes regress, particularly if I feel left out of a project. Clearly, I have room to grow as a professional. What gets me back on track is recognizing my tendency, embracing my role, and supporting my team in whatever way I can to create exceptional outcomes.
Be intentional about it…
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