April 2009
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The Power of Letting Go
Elizabeth Brown | elizabeth @ 12monthsofmarketing.net
Be InPulse Branding, Marketing and Design | beinpulse.com
April 22, 2009
We all hold on to things for our own reasons. We believe that something is vitally important so we want it done perfect, done right the first time. It’s easier to do it ourselves than teach someone else to do it. We don’t want to inconvenience someone else or pass something off just because we don’t enjoy doing it or need to spend our time doing more important things.
Or, if we are honest, probably the number one reason we hang on to things: the perception of power.
We are afraid that if we give someone else the ability to do “what we do” that we will lose the power of exclusive abilities and knowledge. We believe that our value to the organization lies in what we control. In our "martyr" attitude; "Woe is me, I have to do everything, my staff can't do anything (right)." We are envious of the skills of others and we do not want to give them the advantage of knowledge. We feel threatened. We are simply controlling by nature.
Power is an interesting word. Some definitions include the ability to act, the capacity to perform; strength or force exerted; the ability or official capacity to exercise control; a person having influence or control over others. Dig deeper. Forcefulness, yes, but only as it is tied to effectiveness.
You can be absolutely powerful when it comes to force, and yet completely powerless when it comes to effectiveness.
Here are the ones that imply both force and effectiveness: a source, or means of supplying energy; the rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred.
It is in the supplying and transference of energy that true power is achieved.
If you are under the impression that in holding on to tasks, knowledge, information, and authority that what you are holding on to is your power, you are mistaken. What you are holding on to in many cases is what is going to keep you from having bigger, better, the best in your life.
And for those of you who believe you are indispensable to business operations: stop kidding yourself. If your true value is not in the intrinsic, intangible qualities that you bring to the workplace in your character, experience, wisdom and personality, then you are truly in a precarious position professionally. Because the truth is, a lot of people can do your job. A lot of people could even do the tasks that make up your job better than you. But no one can be you.
When you are holding on, you can’t reach for the brass ring.
I love the principles in Marcus Buckingham’s management DVD “Trombone Player Wanted.” I cannot recommend strongly enough that add this DVD to your personal or professional library if you are a manager or business owner - or even if you are an employee or entrepreneur. It will change the way that you manage. It will change the way that you live, personally. “Trombone Player Wanted” empowers you to let go.
"Trombone Player Wanted" educates you as to how and why, and literally empowers you - almost makes it imperative for you to let go of those things that stop you from doing the things that you love, from doing the things that you do best. This DVD is a must-have for staff training and development – but be warned, it will change your staff, and it will change you.
When it comes to your business, do you keep tips and tricks to yourself? Do you retain the exclusive ability to perform certain tasks for clients or for the business? As a manager, do you train staff so that if you disappeared no one would notice as far as the ability to carry on business goes? Isn't that your corporate responsibility?
Do you purposefully choose individuals to work with who have strengths in areas that you have weaknesses in? Smart managers and business owners give away everything so that they have the ability to support, direct, guide and lead. Smart managers seek out smarter people to work with. Smart managers protect their employees from taking hits, are generous with praise and share the credit where credit is due. Smart managers know that the better their business or department hums along without them, the more true power they have, the more true momentum can be achieved for their career as well as the company.
True, lasting power is in the transference of energy to others. So let go of something today. Let go of something this week, this month, this year. Identify those things that you have been hanging on to that are keeping you from doing what you truly love and what you are truly excellent at doing. Transfer energy, support, capacity to act and ability to perform to those around you, and see how much further and how much faster the growth and development of all is propelled.
Let go! - Elizabeth Brown | Be InPulse Branding, Marketing and Design
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