“Me Do It”

“Did you get your project approved?”

“Yes.”

“That’s great. You must be excited.”

“I am, but also a bit scared.”

“Why scared? You can do it.”

“Well, he was clear about what he expected, but he didn’t give me much direction about how to do it. In fact, he didn’t give me any direction at all. I’m worried that I might not do it the way he wants it done.”

“He didn’t tell you how to do it?”

“No. All he said was for me to ask for help if I needed it.”

“So you get to do it the way you want to?”

“Yes, as long as the result is what we agreed on.”

“I wish my boss was like that. Every time I get an assignment, he tells me in great detail exactly how to do it. Makes me feel like a child or a robot. You’re lucky to work for someone who lets you do it your own way.”

It starts when we are two years old—“me do it…me do it.” And the truth is, we never grow out of it. None of us really like to be told how to do something. We all want to be like Frank Sinatra who sang, “I did it my way.”

If you are a “my way or the highway” leader:

You aren’t a leader at all—you’re a boss.
The best and brightest won’t work for you for long. They’ll move on. You’ll end up with a mediocre team at best.
You are 100% responsible for the results since you want it done “your way.” If you don’t get what you want, too bad.
Your team members won’t grow up. They’ll be two year olds forever.

Take a chance. Turn your team loose. Let “I did it my way” mean you let them do it their way.

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