Being a manager means protecting your team from certain interactions from above—removing red tape so they can get their jobs done. Each employee on your team was hired to do something specific for the company. Give them latitude to do so—and trust they understand and support the business.
As a mid-level manager at a large company, I once found out that the business was being sold…from an online news article. The senior leaders of the company did not trust their managers enough to share the information. As a result, the facts emerged through other sources. My peers and I were confused and disappointed. Why not trust us with the information—when they trusted us to run the company?
As a manager, it can be hard to trust your people. You may feel you can accomplish tasks faster and/or better. Instead, you need to lead… and develop your team. Give them a chance to make a mistake—it helps them learn. Don’t forget, however, to verify their information. Trust them by communicating clearly what you need. If they don’t get it right, make a resolution to find out why: It could have been a misunderstanding on either side. Resolve to find out and trust your team.
