Are you solving too many of your team’s problems and challenges on your own? You want to have a team of employees who can make their own quality decisions. Here are three ways to help your employees become better problem-solvers:
Ask your employees for their opinions on a regular basis. Give your employees a voice in key decisions. A great way to build rapport is to make your employees feel as if their opinions are welcomed and that you’re not the only one making decisions.
Provide flexibility. Assign a project or task, but give employees flexibility in how they carry it out. When they come to you for direction, don’t just let them know how you would do it. Ask questions to help them discover their choices —and the right path — on their own.
Know that mistakes will happen. Let your employees know that it’s OK when things don’t turn out like they had hoped. Experiments sometimes don’t work. New initiatives can fizzle. Don’t be the manager who pounces on people when they make mistakes. Make sure your employees aren’t afraid to take risks and try new things. Give them the freedom to take on new projects and initiatives and find strategies to make them successful.