It’s Not About Finding the Answer
There are four elements for empowering employees to make better decisions:
1. Create a list of as many alternative courses of action as possible. The purpose is not to find the answer but to generate options. Oftentimes, a better alternative will present itself, but it may take time to get there. At this stage, you help your employee develop as many options as possible to uncover different courses of action and the consequences of taking one action over another.
2. Explore pros and cons of each option. This step alone will help the employee make better decisions now as they explore possible solutions to potential problems, and in the future to take ownership of the decision moving forward.
When you make the decision, or tell the employee what to do, you retain ownership. This continues the employee’s reliance on you, and prevents them from developing in their role.
3. Rank options. This can help when there is no clear, great option. Ranking helps employees compare each option based on the identified areas of importance. It also enables the employee to identify which option will work well in the short term, and which will work in the long term.
4. Invest the time. Spend the necessary time brainstorming options before moving into solution mode. Avoid offering a solution and rather ask questions when an employee reaches a stumbling block and needs your help. This helps them solve tomorrow’s challenges today by equipping them with the critical thinking skills for problem solving.
Here are some questions you can ask to help generate sound alternatives and options.
• What have you thought about or already tried?
• What do you think could work here?
• What other options can you think of?
• What needs to be in place for you to be successful?
• What are the pros and cons (of each option)?
• How do you want to prioritize these options?
• How do you want to rank these options?
• What option do you recommend?
Check out my Blog Post for a complete list of questions that will assist you at this stage in the coaching process.
(This excerpt from “You Think You’re Coaching, But You’re Not! How Great Leaders Build High-Performing Teams“)
Sage Alliance, a Leadership Performance Company, provides coaching, team-building and assessments, workshops and speaking on topics including; leadership development, empowering teams, communications, lasting impressions, personal branding and building a high performing team through coaching, for executives and high-potentials – for both team and individual leaders.
Contact us today to discover how your organization can get the most through improved productivity, efficiency and direct impact to your bottom line, while leaders gain powerful insight, crystallize opportunities for growth and fine tune their strengths, enabling them to make the greatest impact. You can contact Shelley Hammell directly at shammell@thesagealliance.com.