Jotting down the roles of everyone on the team, accepting help and being self-compassionate are all ways that leaders with a tendency to take on too much can dial down their habits of over-responsibility, The Harvard Business Review reported July 20.
When leading a team, some managers take on the burden of responsibility too heavily, becoming over-responsible for their team members, affecting their team’s performance and damaging their own wellbeing, writes executive coach Dina Smith.
Here are five ways Smith shares to stop being too responsible a leader:
- Challenge your assumptions about what really is your responsibility and figure out whether you are putting too much pressure on yourself.
- Communicate the responsibilities of others in the team clearly, ensuring they understand and can work on what they need to.
- List what each team member, including yourself, is truly responsible for to ensure you are completely aware of the lines between tasks and duties.
- Accept help from others if you feel overwhelmed with responsibilities.
- Be patient and compassionate with yourself in understanding that changing patterns of behavior is difficult and will take time.