We’ve all said it. We’ve all had the frustration of having it said to us. “Just let me do it myself – it’s easier than explaining it to you.”
It’s not easy to let go of something want done “just so” and to realize that in the long run, you’re better off investing the time up front.
One of the things I’ve truly enjoyed through my career is nurturing and mentoring young people starting out. I think it’s important to take the time to invest in their progress. Yes, it is often easier to just do a task yourself, but when you go down that road, you cheat someone out of a learning experience and in the long run, also cheat yourself out of time to pursue other things.
I’ve been blessed, through my career, to have worked for some great people who have taken the time with me me when I’m sure it would have been easier to just do it themselves. They guided me me and then trusted me enough to let me do it, knowing that while it might not be done their way, that it would still get done, and get done well.
It’s no different at home. In the course of giving my kids the opportunity to take care of their bedrooms and take part in cooking family meals, I’ve sometimes had to close my eyes and not see the dust bunnies in the “just cleaned room” and I’ve eaten more than my share of overcooked, undercooked and mis-spiced meals. But the learning they’ve experienced through the process and the independence and confidence they’ve gained has been more than worth it. In terms of financial lessons, they’ve had opportunities to experience, through allowances, how to manage – and occasionally mismanage – money.
There’s been more than one occasion where a homemade gift has substituted for the one they “meant to” have enough money left over to buy. That creativity has been a side-benefit of a learning process that I hope will mean fewer “oops” with money when the stakes are higher.
Back in the office, I love having the opportunity to give my staff at work a chance to grow their skills. Even more, I love watching their confidence grow as they tackle new challenges and develop into ever more able and thoughful communicators. And selfishly, I enjoy reaping the benefits that my investment in them has brought: new time for me to take on my own new challenges.
When that recipe finally comes together, everyone wins.
