Over the course of the last few years, I have come to realize that this generation and the generation before seems to over parent their kids. Noticing this also made me realize that we do this in business with our staff as well. It’s a natural thing that we want to do.
Now — what do I mean by over parenting?
You will notice these parents right from the getgo –especially in the primary education buildings like preschool, elementary that sort of thing. They will be the parent holding the kids backpack, while all the other kids carry their own.
They are the parent that is always in the school afterwards popping in to see the teacher so that the parent can explain how their child should be treated — simply because the teacher won’t understand, and has no clue how to teach her child.
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What happens when you do that is, you are removing their independence and stopping them from learning and doing things for themselves.
If you have ever seen a nature show, and you have watched the lioness with her cubs, she does everything she can to make her cubbie learn and then they kick them out to learn on their own.
That is how it used to be in the old days, but nowadays, the young millennials are growing up with a sense of entitlement. They can’t cook for themselves, they can’t do laundry because they never were taught how to do these things because mom or dad did it for them.
The same can be said in your business when it comes to your staff.
You Don’t Have to Do It All
When you are the boss, what happens is this — you know how to do it all, and you do it best, so instead of giving them the ability to complete the task and show you they can do it, you micro manage them.
You take the job from them and finish it off because you want to make a few tweaks to it. You just cannot seem to let them complete the task at hand.
What you are doing is that you are effectively carrying their backpack, and finishing off the homework because it is just not quite right.
With your staff, when you are finishing it off, you are not allowing them to make mistakes for themselves.
What happens is then, your staff will only give half an effort into a project because they know in the end, you are going to want to just fix it and finish it for them.
What they are thinking inside is “Why don’t you just do it yourself?”
They Impressed You
When you hired these employees, they impressed you with their resumes and their skill set. Now, you need to let them learn and show you what they can do.
You are never going to find out what kind of skills they have if you are always coming in and finishing off the work for them.
You contain them into this little box and you do not let them get out and experience your business and learn for themselves.
Think about yourself — how were you at the start when you opened your business? You did not have someone looking over your shoulder editing and criticizing your work. You just learned as you went.
Just like kids and parents, if you constantly do everything for them and finish things off and are always correcting their mistakes, they are going to be depressed, feel worthless, and will always feel like someone is constantly criticizing them.
They get to where they do not care and they are not functioning properly in the world — and the same will happen to your employees if you are constantly micro managing their work.
Your staff are brilliant and they will be fantastic at something so give them the tools to help them succeed and watch them grow!
Give them plenty of creative room and then tell them that if they have any questions to come and see you and let you help them — but only if they truly need it.
Allow them to learn like you did. Allow themselves to make themselves look stupid — they won’t do it again!
Give them some leeway — please!
Monday Book Recommendation
Today is Monday so that means it is time for a book for the week. Today I want to recommend Get a Grip by Gino Wickman and Mike Paton.
Gino wrote Rocket Fuel, which is one of the best books I have read all year.
This book is about how to get a grip on your business and make it turn around. It will help you systematize and put you on the track to turning things around.
If you are an entrepreneur, then books like this need to be on your radar — the E-Myth, Rocket Fuel, and more.
Have a fantastic Monday and I will be back tomorrow with another great tip for you.
