If your team doesn’t know which leadership hat you’re wearing, you can create confusion.
A leader who says, “Here’s an idea…” may simply want to brainstorm. But the team may hear, “This is what the boss wants us to do.” A coaching question may be interpreted as criticism. Advice may sound like a decision.
Great leaders make their role explicit: “Let’s brainstorm this together.” “I’ll put on my consultant hat for a moment.” “I want you to make this decision, so let me coach you through it.”
They know which hat their people need—and make sure everyone knows when they put it on.
When was the last time your advice was mistaken for a decision ?
Which leadership hat do you wear most often? Which one should you wear more ?
