It’s your decision

One of the most difficult phrases for a manager to say: "It’s your decision."

Thousands of pages have been written on how to manage and how to delegate properly. Yet, there is still that instinctive urge to start solving the problems your teammates bring to you. And they bring them to you because they know for sure that you’ll solve them.

When you jump in to save the day, they don't learn how to solve the problem, they don't gain new experience, and they don't take ownership or accountability. You become all-powerful, and they stay exactly where they were.

Good for egomaniacs. Bad for organizational sustainability.

There is no easy way to change this. There is no other way except to take a deep breath, prepare for an outcome you might not be 100% satisfied with, and say those painful words: "It’s your decision."

And if you have invested the time and energy to ensure everyone on your team deeply understands the strategy and tactics; if everyone shares the same values and understands where their responsibilities begin and end — those words will be not only the most difficult for you to say, but also the most powerful for your organization’s growth.

And it’s worth it.

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