To grow & scale to a valuable business, let go

One of the reasons I see businesses plateau in their results is not funding, or lack of ideas, but resistance in letting go. Letting go and letting their employees do what they were hired to do.

And for some, simply hiring someone can be a huge hurdle to cross.

By letting go and increasing the responsibilities of those around you, you create one of the foundational components to growth and scale.

It can be difficult and challenging.

What does it often come down to?

Trust.

Trust in them, trust in your business as an overall entity, and trust in yourself.

Trust in them:

Trust doesn’t necessarily mean that you trust they won’t make mistakes, yet I think this is often how we view managing employees…”What if they make a mistake”? Perhaps considering trust in this way…..Do I trust them to be able to ask for help when they need it? Do I trust them to navigate the situation with the client’s best interests at heart when they make a mistake?

Perhaps this is a helpful way to think about trust. And, if you’re coaching your employees and only focussed on preventing mistakes, then this is a missed opportunity. Coach them on what to do WHEN they make a mistake. This will prepare them and empower them.

Trust in your business:

Would your business withstand a mistake or a misstep from an employee? This is a great example of an opportunity to start off small and work your way up with how much responsibility you give to your staff. This is where ensuring your client delivery process is sound, and you have a problem escalation or complaint process in place. If you are at the end of that complaint process that’s fine, but you have recourse for your clients to go to should there be a misstep. In all likelihood, your business will be fine if an error occurs. After all, you’ve heard that adage, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘it’s not that you’ve made the mistake, companies are judged by how they handle it when they occur’.

Trust yourself.

You hired your people for a reason. And, you know how to run each and every part of your business. Trust yourself to share your knowledge and to be able to manage the situation should things start to go sideways.

Here are some other thoughts:

• Things are never obvious. Things that are obvious to you are not for someone else, and assuming they are is when mistakes happen. Be clear and re-educate continuously.

• Accept that things will not be done exactly as you said half the time. People are human and not drones. Having a strong process and managing to the process will help you. Expect errors to occur and correct or reiterate the process when they do.

• Accept that not all your employees will care as much as you do about your business. Some will be very invested in your mission and others will have their own reasons they’re invested, and some won’t be at all. But, expecting everyone to be fully invested at all times will lead to disappointment. Consider your incentive plans and ensure their roles and goals are aligned to their incentives. Ensure they know how their role impacts the whole business and how their role helps your clients and customers.

• Accept that sometimes, not every employee works out and you will have to part ways with those that don’t, often to the benefit of both parties.

• Occasionally put yourself in your employee’s shoes, and ask yourself “Could I be happy working in this company the way it is?”. Be honest :).

I know you have big goals.

I know that you feel there’s more for you to do.

Here’s the thing. You can’t do it alone.

Learning to let go and letting others help you out, and to participate in that growth will give you a better chance of hitting your goals. When someone can be a real part of growth, alongside you, that’s when you get a dedicated employee.

NOW is YOUR time.

Ariana