Hi Audrey, 

I hope you're having a good week!   

Entrepreneurs are habitual micromanagers. Most of the time this stems from a single fear...

Fear that their employees won’t do the job “right” (whatever that means).

While there are plenty of strategies for getting employees to the point where we can trust them to do the job the way WE want them to do it, most of these techniques rely on some combination of improved long-term training and development for employees. This is the right direction for sure, and my clients will tell you that I pester them non-stop about this, but what if you need an immediate solution to stop micromanaging your employees?

Ladies and Gents,

I offer you the "BANKS OF THE RIVER" leadership model:

How does it work? 

Think about your employees’ progression to competency much like a boat journey down a river. 

You, the experienced captain, know the “expert path” down the middle of the river. It’s the smoothest path, has the smallest amount of rocks and rapids, without any impending threats that could potentially damage the boat and its occupants.

Left to captain the ship yourself, you can ensure that the boat stays on the expert path, but if you want to take a break from the helm you’re screwed. 

In order to allow your employees to learn and grow, and eventually make decisions on their own, you have to allow them to make AND correct mistakes. You must also be there to ensure that drastic mistakes aren’t made.

That’s where this model comes in handy:

1. River Banks – The point at which there is a required correction so that there is not a drastic mistake.
2. Expert Path – How you would do something
3. Novice Path – How your employees do something before training.

Your job here is now very simple. 

Once employees have a basic understanding of the task at hand, your job is to let them “float” around the expert path without you intervening UNLESS they come close to the river banks. 

When, and only when, that happens, you should immediately and sharply correct the employee's actions, and help them get back inside the river banks. At this point, you would once again relinquish control and allow them to proceed down the river.

Once the path is taught, you should ONLY intervene when there is an IMMINENT THREAT of drastic mistakes.

That's it...

Don't overthink it...

Give it a try. See what happens. 

Hope you have a great weekend, 

Chad

P.S.

Mavericks, my private coaching group, is open if you'd like to join. It's not expensive yet you get a lot. Each week I put out a video lesson, we have a monthly group call and we also read/discuss a relevant book together each month. Members have a special area to connect with one another to share challenges, receive feedback and coaching. If you get a chance, I'd love for you to check it out. 

Here's the link.

Interested in joining? Respond directly to this email ([email protected]) and I'll send you an exclusive discount code.