In most cases, people end up in a management position simply because they manage to solve some problems in a much better way than their peers. Problem solvers often end up feeling proud and will talk about what they managed to do. The problem solver is so often seen as a perfect fit for management but this is not always the case. The managers that end up in senior management fully understand the fact that problem solvers are frustrating. This is especially the case when you are a CEO.
Experienced manager German Trujillo Manrique says that the best managers are those that have really strong leadership skills. They will always be mission-driven and will empower team members to solve their problems.
Creating Problems For The Team To Solve
One thing that few people know is that leadership often features intentionally creating problems so that others can solve them. It is something that seems counterintuitive but it has been going on for a long time, even when in school. Grades and rewards appear when problems are solved. The problems are handed out by the teachers. This is a mindset that remains engraved in us. It can be highly rewarding at work but it can also be pretty bad for the leaders.
Invent Brand New Possibilities
Anyone in a leadership position needs to invent brand new possibilities for team members. Allocating resources in a way that allows people to take charge is a huge part of the entire process. Solving problems is not the best way to handle things, unless you create them to build opportunities. In all other situations, the best thing you can do is to invent possibilities that people can take advantage of.
Telling People What To Do
We often see leaders that are proud when they say others what to do. This is problematic because as time passes, management and staff members simply become “yes men”. Leaders then end up frustrated because of the fact that people end up not thinking about what they do. This happens as many of the really tough problems were already solved. Staff members that lose the ability to handle the difficult challenges in a highly effective way. Whenever a problem appears, they go to management and they look for solutions.
Unfortunately, when team members are always told what they need to do, it becomes imperative to look for someone new from time to time. Leaders simply end up firing people and then replacing them with those that are highly experienced.
Conclusions
If you are a leader in an organization, you have to be aware of the fact that the best mistake you could make is to always tell people what they need to do and to solve their problems. Instead, focus on growing a culture that relies on teams being able to act alone and find the solutions necessary to solve difficult problems. This can be done in various ways and it is up to you to figure out what strategy works best in your company.