Gone Spelunking?
Nancy John, CTDP ACC
Leadership Coach to Introverted Leaders ? Leadership Facilitator ? Leadership Strategy Consultant ? Team Development ? Speaker ? Equipping Introverted Leaders to build Influence & Visibility
It’s an activity that involves the exploration of caves where participants navigate through the passages and “nooks and crannies” by both scaling above and into the depths of the cave.
In her book, Radical Candor, Kim Scott calls out the need for leaders to go spelunking in their organizations. “As the boss, you do have the right to delve into any details that seem interesting or important to you. You don’t have to stay “high level” all the time. Sometimes you will be the decider. And even when you’ve delegated the decisions, you can still plunge into the details of some other, smaller decision from time to time… It’s also a good way… to show that noting is “above” or “below” anyone’s concern.” She goes on to share that when you, as the leader, are the decider, you will also want to go to the source of the facts rather than getting them through layers of management, which means going to the person working on the details.
This is an interesting practice because it seems to promote well-intentioned micromanaging.
I’ve been on both sides of this – as a leader needing the details to decide as well as needing to provide details to a leader so they could do the same. And as I think about when this practice has worked best, one word stands out: Trust. Trust causes people to believe that everything is for the best of the team and the organization. But obviously that doesn’t just happen.
How can one create that type of trust within their team?
I want to offer up a few ideas:
- Demonstrate that you care about each person
- Create a safe space for candid feedback – no better way to start than with you, the leader, being the recipient
- Be clear and open with goals (why), roles (who), responsibilities (what)
- Bring people in on brainstorming and decision-making (how) – lay down your need to control
- Demonstrate that you care about each person (not a typo ??)
When have you experienced real trust with a group or team? How did that come to be?
Share your story in the comments below.
Nancy John CTDP ACC I like this analogy and went spelunking in Budapest! Incredible experience, 1,000 feet underground and I not only had to trust the tour guide, but also myself. Trust that I could maneuver my body through the crevices, trust the guide knew the route, and trust in the process and path. I loved it! Great question about trust..and for me, it starts with my family. They are my first introduction into the concept of trust. It's difficult to quantify and even describe and I think it stems from consistency in their behaviors to take care of my sister and I. And it expands to my aunts/uncles who would listen, advise, welcome me and follow through on their promises.
Take Your Leadership Journey to the Next Level. ?? Award-Winning Business & Executive Coach | PROSCI, Positive Psychology & Extended DiSC certified | ACMP Board of Directors | 3X Published Author
5 年Consistency pays dividends in business and in relationship building. ?When you witness and experience someone continually do what they say they are going to do and show up with genuine care, trust is built. ?
Leadership Coach to Introverted Leaders ? Leadership Facilitator ? Leadership Strategy Consultant ? Team Development ? Speaker ? Equipping Introverted Leaders to build Influence & Visibility
5 年Arlene, Daniel, Jennifer, Amy, when have you experienced real trust? How did that come to be?? Thanks for sharing!