You’ve probably seen the movie The Ten Commandments where Charlton Heston as Moses commands Yul Brynner as Pharaoh to release the Hebrews from their Egyptian captivity.  We need to do something similar in the workplace today.  Managers need to let their people go and empower self-direction.

I was in a store and asked an employee if I could take 4 items into the changing room (they only allowed 3).  They replied that they would need to ask their manager about it.  It took some time and I got impatient so I left.  Somebody else got my business.

I am always amazed at the number of businesses where employees are powerless to take action, even with the most trivial decisions.  Imagine watching a soccer game where players are continually yelling over to the coach to tell them where to pass the ball.  The game would be no contest.  The other team would win without any trouble.

If teams can’t make decisions and take action, the costs are high.  Lost games, lost customers, lost time, the list goes on.  The best teams do what they know needs to be done without waiting to be told what to do and their leaders give them the room to do it.

If you want your business to drive more revenue, cut costs, and provide better service, stop telling your people what to do. Instead, take a moment to let your team members think about the situation and come to some conclusions. Ask them, “What do you think? What would you do?” This is how you lead and develop their ability to make decisions.