Beep! Beep! The Art of Getting out of the Way

“Lead, follow or get out of the way.” It’s a terse, tense and true phrase. By the time we, as leaders, get to the level of self-awareness and discipline that this phrase requires, we may have already deflated the wheels of learning instead of keeping those wheels turning.

What wisdom I have comes from 20/20 hindsight, stray fortune cookie slips at the bottom of my purse, and from those leaders who taught by getting out of the way. In one instance, having explained that while the proposal presented to an internal client had been passed on, I wanted the go-ahead and the latitude to reapproach the client with the same idea but in a completely different context from the one originally used. He could have said, “That’s nice but let me show you how it’s really done.” Instead, even though my “Plan B” had not worked, my leader had the courage to ask me what I learned from the experience and what I would do differently next time rather than pointing out what he would have done instead.

In a “Fast Company” article published earlier this year, Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, stated, “When it comes to leadership and working with people, you need to know when to get out of the way.” It takes courage to give someone an opportunity to succeed by failing, even though you might have seen it coming and it took all you had to keep from manipulating the outcome. That is part of the art of getting out of the way.

Getting out of the way gracefully is both a challenge and learning opportunity for leaders. Many factors, such as a leader’s experiences or an organization’s cultural norms, can influence what defines “grace” in such situations. To purposefully and intentionally insert oneself in a project, process, or situation is an irresistible temptation to show what you can do. It can also be a way for leaders to show consideration and thoughtfulness for others. “Grace” doesn’t mean displaying a halo over one’s head and hearing heavenly music. Rather, it means displaying pragmatic leadership by being present and patient with the situation; using keen, well honed observation and communication skills that help identify what is going on and why; applying good judgment and tact, even when the leader knows she/he could have done it better with eyes closed. Getting out of the way gracefully allows leaders to demonstrate behaviors that enable a process of professional growth and self-discovery that benefits the talent in your firm.

If you take the responsibility of developing your talent seriously, consider that getting out of the way:
• Goes beyond making the conscious decision not to be a micromanager, though that is a good start!
• Does not mean you keep your mouth shut. Instead, think of the famous three monkeys, “Hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil.” Set out to enable instead of disabling through finding fault or disparaging new approaches.
• Means asking more and telling less. Use the 5Ws – who what, when, where, and why.
• Should not mean that a leader should “get lost” or lay low, interpreting that their mere presence will cause their staff to seek them out for guidance.
• Requires asking “How do I get out of their way and, by association, out of mine?”

So, maybe we should make an adjustment to the “lead, follow or get out of the way” paradigm. Maybe it should be “Lead, Follow and get out of the way.”

Wishing you success in all ways,
Pat