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The traditional model of formal, one-person leadership not only leaves many future leaders out in the cold, but it also undermines the current leader in the long run. Yet hierarchies with a rigid chain of command persist in many organizations. Old traditions die hard.
By definition, leadership means guidance or direction. We, the very professionals who admire great leadership, are the ones who give it that meaning. "Leadership isn't about doing; it's about being," says Rayona Sharpnack, founder of the Institute for Women's Leadership, who teaches leadership to businesspeople inside many powerful companies around the world. "You are more likely to succeed if you concentrate on transforming your mental framework rather than on memorizing mechanics."
Leadership is about who you are, not what you do. If you are confident, secure in your abilities and honest, those qualities come across in your presence as well as in your actions.
Why Letting Go Is Important
Allowing others to lead is important to your overall career for several reasons:
- Allowing subordinates or peers to do the leading is an excellent means of succession planning. This gives you the opportunity to move on when the time comes, because someone else has the ability to do your job effectively. This is especially important for women, who tend to get overlooked for promotions with the excuse that no one else could possibly do the job.
- When you let others lead, it provides professional development for them. Continuous development of your staff is critical to your department and company's success.
- Letting others lead demonstrates that you are ready to move ahead. It sends a signal to your higher-ups that you are mature and secure enough in your own abilities that you can let go.
- Handing over power gives you a sense of freedom. As Harriet Rubin, a best-selling author on leadership, says: "Freedom is actually a bigger game than power. Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash." When you are hoarding, manipulating and controlling, you must continuously watch your back to keep someone else from stealing your control away. Whereas playing the freedom game provides you with ultimately more power, because you are trusted and admired and people give you additional power.
- And finally, allowing your team members to lead builds loyalty. When people feel their leader trusts them this much, they develop a sense of dependability and go to great lengths to please.
How to Let Go
Letting go of the lead role can feel like you are giving up control. For some individuals, this is quite difficult. The best way to let go is to ease into it gradually. Try some of the following ideas to help you take this big step.
- Begin turning over some leadership duties to your highly trusted employees first. Knowing you can trust them will let you feel more comfortable about releasing some authority.
- Start small. Give away a few of your lesser duties to test the waters.
- Keep your eyes wide open. Even when you trust someone, you should never let your guard down completely. Be wise and watch carefully how the employee handles the situation.
- Set up a network of close allies who will watch your back and let you know when someone is taking advantage of a situation.
Now take a deep breath, step back, and let someone else lead. As you let go, you will notice that over time, more power and influence come back to you. People realize that a true leader is confident in his position.