It's All A Matter Of Trust

“The more responsibility the Scoutmaster gives his Patrol Leaders, the more they will respond.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of the Boy Scouts

I have seen it over and over again.  The leader, employer or parent who gives a responsibility to someone and then hovers over them, "making sure they do it right".  They micro-manage it so much that the person doing the job looses all interest in doing it right, they just want to be done.  Then, the leader, employer or parent complains that they cannot understand why their worker or child has no interest in doing what they are given to do.

                Here is a fact of life: No one likes to be micro-managed - NO ONE!  When someone is watching over your shoulder all the time it tells you that you are not trusted.  It says that the person in charge thinks you are incompetent and unable to do the work you are given.  This, more than any problem a person may face, sucks the life out of those expected to do the task.  The result is that the person in charge gets exactly what they are looking for, failure.

                There are some rules that all leaders must follow to get the best out of others:

Leave Them Alone

                When you give a job to be done or a task to manage to someone, allow them the freedom to be responsible.  Leave them alone!  Allowing them to do the task without your oversight will show they you trust them.  We all want to be trusted and have someone believe the best in us.  The person who feels trusted to do a good job will give their best to do a good job.  We want to please those who honor us.  We do not give our best to those who do not believe we have the best to give.

You Get What You Expect

                There is an old saying, "Want a bad kid, tell them they are a bad kid."  People will give us just what we expect of them.  Those who micro-manage tell others they expect them to do a poor job or to fail.  They may not say so in direct words, but that is the clear and direct message they give.  When trust is given you tell others that you believe in them.  You allow them the power to be the best they can be and with that, they will give back just what you expect - excellence.

Seek Results, Not Power

                Let's face it, most people who micro-manage do not want good results, they want control.  For those who understand that success come from a team working together, not from who is in control, they will allow others to do it their way.  We are all different and have different styles of learning and achieving.  When giving a task to be done, be clear on the results you want, not on the steps to do it.  Allow those doing the task to do it their way, as long as the needed results are achieved, there is no worry about the methods.

                Success-minded people know that the best way to get excellence from another person is to expect it and allow it.  Let those you are working with, no matter on what level, do their best and you will have the success you seek.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey