Capacity: The ability or power to do, experience or understand something.
Most leaders realize the capacity of the organization impacts the potential to accomplish its mission. When the organization begins to exceed its capacity for too long things eventually stall.
If you want to spur growth you have to increase capacity.
Therefore, one of the best ways a leader can impact an organization is to create capacity so the organization and its people can grow.
4 WAYS A LEADER CAN CREATE CAPACITY
1. Paint a Void.
Allow others to see what could be accomplished. Leaders help people see potential—in themselves and the future—they may not otherwise see. This can be accomplished through vision casting and question asking. It may be helping people dream bigger dreams of what could be next in their own life or for the organization. It could be through training or development.
When people can see an opportunity ahead they are more energized to find new and adventuresome ways to get there.
2. Empower People.
Giving people the tools, resources and authority to accomplish tasks creates new capacity.
Many times people feel they’ve done all they can with what they have. Provide them with new tools—maybe new ideas—assure them they can’t fail if they are doing their best. Continue to support them as needed. Then get out of their way.
3. Release Ownership.
Let go of your attempt to control an outcome so others can lead. The more power and ownership you release the more others will embrace. Team members are more likely to take initiative when they feel it is their own project.
(It’s always been amazing to me when I consult with teams to find people who are simply “waiting” for an approval to move forward.)
4. Lead People, Not Tasks.
If you are always the doer and never the enabler then you are not a leader. More than likely you are simply a barrier to what the team could accomplish if you got out of the way.
Many leaders don’t see this in themselves, so frequently ask yourself: Am I leading or am I in the way? And if you’re brave enough—ask others to evaluate you—even anonymously.
When the leader creates capacity the organization and the people in the organization increase their capacity—and things can grow.
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This article originally appeared on RonEdmondson.com and is reposted here by permission.