4 Ways Leaders Can Protect Their Time and Empower Their Teams

One of the biggest challenges leaders face is protecting their time and attention from other people’s problems. While it’s a commendable instinct to want to be available to your team at all times, it’s not practical — and it doesn’t help them learn to solve problems on their own. To protect your own time, and help your team become more independent, try four tactics: first, mentor them in hindsight, asking them to solve problems first and then workshop them with you afterwards. Second, create clear guidelines that let them know what decisions they can make without consulting you. Third, have regular check-ins with your direct reports so that you can “batch solve” problems. And fourth, be available less often. If you disconnect from time to time, it will force your team to rise to the occasion.