A few years back, when I was early in my tenure as Interim CIO for a company in the Seattle area, my telecom manager, Dean, came into my office one day and plopped down in a chair across from me.  Here is the discussion that unfolded...
 
Dean: "I need to talk to Gene."  (One of our SVP's.)
 
John: "Okaaaaay... (I said slowly and quizingly...knowing that I was, in fact, not Gene).  So why are you in my office?"
 
Dean: "Well, I need your permission."
 
John:  [blank stare]
 
John: [blinking...more blank staring...and waiting for Rod Serling to tell me that I had just entered the Twilight Zone]
 
John: [finally able to speak] "And why do you need my permission to talk to someone?"
 
Dean: "It's always been that way in IT, at least to talk with executives."
 
John: [One final blank stare, just for effect.]
 
John: "Dean, do you know where Gene's office is?"
 
Dean: "Yes."
 
John: "Do you know what you want to talk with him about?"
 
Dean: "Yes."
 
John:  "Now tell me again why you're in my office?"

 

Dean: [blank stare back at me]

 

John: "Dean, I believe in you.  I trust you to do the right things and make good decisions for the business...that's what you get paid to do.  Now get out of my office!"
 
Dean:  [With a big smile on his face.]  "Okay, boss!"
 
And after that discussion...I didn't see Dean for 2 ½ years!!
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I remember this discussion because I found it not only surprising, but also transforming.  I know that Dean felt transformed into someone who was trusted...he was set free to do his job.
 
I was transformed too.  I no longer had to worry about managing Dean.  I really did believe in him and knew that he could manage himself and his team without me.  I simply had to communicate my trust in him and let him go.
 
Managing people takes a lot of time and effort...leading people doesn't take a lot of time and effort, but it does take a great deal of trust...trust in the right people to do the right things the right way at the right time.
 
I prefer leading people versus managing them.  But maybe I'm just lazy.  ;-)
  
Okay, I really don't think leadership is about being lazy, but it is very different from managing...with very different results for both the people and the business.

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Be sure to download and read Ron Scott's article (below) about Earning Trust.  There's a wealth of insight and knowledge contained in Ron's experiences and writing.

 

Enjoy!