Directing Others

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Less Skilled

• Provides incomplete, vague, or disorganized instructions.

• Relates to the people they're leading as a friend or peer rather than a boss or mentor.

• Delegates work to people without giving them sufficient guidance.

• Sets goals and objectives so easy to achieve that people are demotivated in the process.

• Saves high-profile tasks for self.

More Skilled

• Provides clear direction and accountability expectations.

• Delegates and distributes assignments and decisions appropriately.

• Monitors progress by maintaining dialogue on work and results.

• Provides appropriate guidance and direction based on people's capabilities.

• Intervenes as needed to remove obstacles.

Very Skilled

• Masterfully matches people to assignments.

• Conveys clear performance expectations and follows up consistently.

• Sets stretch goals and objectives, pushing individuals or teams to perform at higher levels.

• Delegates work in a way that empowers ownership (e.g., outlines outcome expectations vs. simple input and output expectations).

• Tracks how work is progressing without meddling.

Over Skilled

• May be overly directive and stifle creativity and initiative.

• Pushes people too hard by asking them to work at their upper limits.

• May over-delegate without providing enough direction or help.

• Gives people authority that they shouldn't have.

Potential Issues

• Doesn't trust others.

• Poor judgement of people's skill and ability.

• Fear of letting go of control or power.

• Micromanages.

• Doesn't delegate well.

• Has unrealistic expectations of others.

• Low risk tolerance.

• Impatient.

• Can't stop relating to people as a friend or peer vs. a boss or mentor.

Resource List

1. How to Manage Your Former Peers (Harvard Business Review Article)

2. Moving From Peer to Boss (Medium Article)

3. From Peer to Boss: 18 Ways to Make a Smooth Transition (Forbes Article)

4. How to Give Instructions Your Employees Will Actually Follow (Canadian Business Article)

5. How to Give Orders to Your Employees (Small Business Chronicle Article)

6. Delegation: The Most Rewarding, Frustrating . . . Awesome Part of Running Your Business by Dave Ramsey (Amazon Book)

7. Want to Be a Better Leader? Stop Giving Orders and Do This Instead (Inc. Magazine Article)

8. 7 Examples You Were Meant to Lead Others (Inc. Magazine Article)

9. Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe (Ted Talk Video)

10. How to Lead So Others Will Want to Follow You (The Balance Careers Article)

11. Giving and Receiving Feedback Part 1 (Craig Groeschel YouTube Video)

12. Giving and Receiving Feedback Part 2 (Craig Groeschel YouTube Video)

13. Strengths Based Leadership (Amazon Book)

14. Leadership and the One Minute Manager (Amazon Book)

15. Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs (Amazon Book)

16. The Practice of Management (Amazon Book)