Entrepreneurs ae habitual micromanagers. Most of the time this stems from a single fear; Fear that their employees won’t do the job “right” (whatever that means). While there are plenty of strategies for getting employees to the point where we can trust them to do the job the way WE want them to do it, most of these techniques rely on some combination of improved long term training and development for employees. This is the right tack for sure, and my clients will tell you that I badger them non-stop about this, but what if you need a RIGHT NOW solution to stop micromanaging your employees? Ladies and Gents, I offer you the BANKS OF THE RIVER leadership model:

Think about your employees’ progression to competency much like a boat journey down a river. You, as an experienced captain, know the “expert path” down the middle of the river. It’s the path that is the smoothest, has the smallest amounts of rocks and rapids and is generally free from even the slightest threat of damage to the boat or it’s occupants. Left to captain the ship yourself, you can ensure that the boat stays on the expert path, but if you want to take a break from the helm you’re screwed. In order to allow your employees to learn and grow and eventually make decisions on their own you have to allow them to a)make and b) CORRECT mistakes, but you also have to be there to ensure that drastic mistakes aren’t made. That’s where this model comes in handy:

River Banks – The point at which there is a required correction so that there is not a drastic mistake.
Expert Path – How you would do something
Novice Path – How your employees do something before training.

Your job here is now very simple. Once employees have a basic understanding of the task at hand, your job is to let them “float” around the expert path without you intervening UNLESS they come close to the river banks. When, and only when, that happens you should immediately and sharply correct the employees actions and help them get back inside the river banks. At which point you will again relinquish control and allow them to proceed down the river. Make sense? Once the path is taught you should ONLY intervene when there is IMMINENT THREAT of drastic mistakes.

I’m excited that you’re still with me for this second issue of the Small Biz Profit Builders monthly letter. You’re one of “The Twelve”, although I’ll refrain from any biblical references to apostles or disciples! Thanks for reading this issue! Don’t forget that in addition to this letter you also have access to:

PRIVATE 24/7 SLACK GROUP – sbpb.slack.com
MONTHLY LIVE CALL WITH ME – Monday, Sept 10th at 6:30PM MST.
To access the call go to www.zoom.us and enter the code 655-745-3522.
MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS – chadjamesusagmail.com

See you next month!