Have a boogle sniff at this Einstein Quote…
The fact is most of us love solving problems, and it is even better when we ride in on a white stallion and fix somebody else’s.
So, let’s start this post by referring to a well used saying you have probably heard more times than a Bryan Adams number 1 single….
This pearl of wisdom is usually used in a health context, meaning if you eat more fruit than the Man from Del Monte, and run more miles than Mo Farah with an itchy arse, you will avoid having the same body fat percentage as a pork scratching on an all inclusive package holiday, and the associated medical risks.
This is common sense, as it is driven by the individual taking personal ownership of their life choices.
In this case, I trust you agree it is fair to deduce that Prevention is Better than Cure!
Where is this going then? Let’s find out cranky pants…
What I want to talk about is the impact when you decide to step in and take control of other people’s challenges.
No growth can take place without complexity and if you intervene quickly to correct behaviour or solve the challenges of others, how will they ever grow any capability?
In the case Prevention is certainly not better than Cure…
Whilst I am all up for supporting others, my stretch is that any support you give, should be strongly biased to helping others build their own capability, resilience and personal leadership. Not a vehicle for you to strut your stuff like Anton Du Beke at the top of Blackpool Tower.
- What is your default approach when you spot a development opportunity for one of your team?
- What is your agenda when you step in? Is it maternal instinct to protect? Is it a need to feel valued? Is it an opportunity to show your magnificence?
- What current situations do you have live at present, where there is an opportunity to support members of your team work through their own complexity?
Here comes the science bit. Introducing Bloom’s Taxonomy…
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a hierarchy for the learning of cognitive skills. The six levels are Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analysing, Evaluating and Creating.
In essence, as the individual moves up the pyramid, the higher the level of thinking that is required.
Your job as a leader of a team should be to facilitate an environment that support and encourage individuals to operate at a higher level of thinking.
The more you can culturally embed this shift, the more agile your workplace will be.
