My Mantras!
I have a series of sayings that I call “My Mantras!”.
They are sayings that I have developed over the years.
It all started when I was working and doing an MBA at the same time. We were expected to attend classes 2x ½ days per week and still do our full-time job. The idea was that we would learn new techniques which we could instantly implement in real life. And of course, you very quickly learn to work faster and smarter. So, for me, that meant learning to delegate more and learning what I could and should delegate.
I came up with the saying “You should ONLY do the things that only you can do!”
At first, I don’t think I realised it had become a management technique until my business analyst said to me “I’ve watched the way you work and you don’t take everything on!” That’s when I realised that, in order to cope, I had changed the way I managed. If something could be delegated then I delegated it
This approach worked really well for me and when we started to teach leadership courses, I naturally passed the idea on. And I found that it resonated with the thousands of managers and leaders who have attended our courses. Without exception, when the course ends, participants mention that this mantra has really changed the way they think.
Tracey has this sticker posted on her computer to remind her.
You see, as a manager and leader, you are deluged with tasks, demands, deadlines. Every day goes by in a flash as you try and meet expectations from your staff and from your boss.
People often say to me “But I can do it quicker!” and that’s true but when you need to urgently respond to a crisis, it’s great if you’ve got the headspace and capacity to do it rather than sink under a massive load of To Dos. And you get to develop your next level of managers and leaders, your next 2-I-Cs, so that when you want to take leave or God forbid, go off sick, you have people who can pick up your role because they’ve got the experience and the confidence.
And that’s how the saying became a mantra!
If you try to do everything, you drown. So, focus on the things that only you can do and delegate everything else! Then when that urgent request comes in, you can respond calmly without panicking. And it’s a great development tool for your next-in-charge staff!
Want to know more? Contact me to find out more!
