One of the wonderful things about having a brilliant team doing outstanding work, is that they often shine so brightly you’d be completely foolish, as a leader, to ignore their talents and dull them with your own.
Equally, in a similar vein, there are times as a leader when we are tempted to do something, because we are there at the time and we think we have the capability, despite there being many better qualified staff around us. We think "I can do that", or "I'll just do it" without due forethought of the likely outcome. We rarely stop to think "should I do that?"
Let me give you a slightly humorous (for some) example. There I am last Saturday on the pitch for Warrington Wolves v Leigh Leopards in the Superleague rugby in my weekend role as a professional sports media photojournalist. The game is being covered on Sky. I am doing some pictures of the Leigh team warming up when a ball comes flying over from a practice penalty. No worry I thought and duly caught the ball perfectly before delivering a neat return kick back to the posts and nice ripple of applause from the crowd behind me.
Buoyed on by the success I thought I would catch the next ball as well and it duly arrived at pace through the air. Now, at this point there are 3 important facts that I don't take into account: 1. This ball is 2 feet above my head and travelling at pace. 2. I am wearing flat soled shoes on the pitch without studs or spikes and 3. I am standing on the crest of the pitch where it dramatically falls away off the edge. I am sure you know what happens next!! I go up for the ball and as I land, my feet go in different directions and all arms and legs I ungracefully fall off the edge of the pitch - cameras and me all going their own way. I do, however, catch the ball and the swell of noise from the crowd behind me said that my embarrassment had been appreciated.
The hilarity comes when Matt Moylan the Australian international full back who had kicked it, calmly walks over and with the straightest face tells me "Mike, I think you had the wrong foot wear on!" Duly noted Matt, thank you!
The point of the story is that we often are tempted to get involved in things where there are far better equipped staff around who will do a much better job. As leaders it is NOT our job to do those tasks ourselves or think that we know better than the experts in our teams. As leaders our role is to provide those quality staff with the atmosphere in which to thrive and the tools with which to develop. In most cases, they will also probably be better at that role than we are.
This Friday night against Catalan Dragons on Sky, you may not see me catching those long balls!
Mike
Co Founder and Partner at december19
2wHappy Chrimbo Bicycle crew 🚲🎅