Teach, Don’t Just Tell: A Leadership Approach
In any growing organization, the real strength lies in people—and how well we empower them to use their strengths. Here’s an idea that sticks with me: “Build the people, and the people build the business.” And “Teach, Don’t Tell”.
One Topic: Teach, Don’t Tell
One of the best ways to develop strong, capable teams is to teach, not just tell. When a task isn’t done right, it’s tempting to jump in and correct it directly. But imagine instead creating a learning system—a training process that focuses on why the task is essential and how to approach it. I picked up this concept from Dan Martell, and it has reshaped how I think about leadership.
Why Teaching Beats Telling
Telling is simple: you give an instruction, and they follow. But that approach can lead to dependency and stifle creativity. Teaching, on the other hand, encourages team members to understand the bigger picture. They gain confidence, make independent decisions, and innovate in ways that elevate everyone.
Let’s say you have a team member who missed a deadline or didn’t meet expectations on a project. Instead of micromanaging their every move or simply telling them what went wrong, invest time to teach a process for improvement. This way, they’ll understand both the expectations and the means to meet them.
How to Avoid Micromanaging
Micromanaging often comes from a place of wanting control, but it’s counterproductive. Here’s how you can shift towards teaching:
- Ask questions that lead to solutions: Instead of saying, “Do it this way,” ask, “How do you think we can tackle this better?”
- Provide constructive feedback: Offer insights and guidance rather than specific directions.
- Set clear goals: Define what needs to be achieved but leave room for them to find the ‘how.’
Alternative Approaches to Guide Your Team
- Mentorship Programs: Pair newer team members with experienced ones. Learning from peers can create a strong foundation and boost morale.
- Training Modules: Provide resources that team members can revisit whenever needed. A learning library can be invaluable.
- Encourage Ownership: When people feel like they ‘own’ a project, they’re motivated to make it successfully.
Read last week’s JustDraft newsletter about Founding Culture.
Two Quotes
Leadership isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about empowering others to find the answers.
A true leader creates other leaders, not followers.
One Passage
Good leaders inspire people to have confidence in the leader; great leaders inspire people to have confidence in themselves. The goal of leadership should not be to create followers but to create more leaders. This approach strengthens the organization because individuals are trained not to be passive workers but to be proactive, self-driven contributors. When people are encouraged to take ownership, they bring new perspectives, innovations, and solutions. It’s the difference between simply doing a job and driving a mission. Great leaders foster this mindset across their teams.
From “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman
