The power of letting go: how to boost team performance
Leaders who are able to relinquish control increase team performance and promote creativity. Our new Success Impulse shows how trust creates better leadership.
Do you feel that your attempts to keep everything under control often have the opposite effect? You are not alone. In fact, striving for control often leads to loss of control - a lesson that applies not only to pilots, but also to managers.
The example of supersonic airplanes
After the Second World War, American pilots found it difficult to maintain control of their supersonic aircraft at high altitude. Interestingly, it was often the pilots who frantically tried to regain control who failed. Those who accepted the chaos and waited for the aircraft to drop to lower altitudes were able to regain control. What can we learn from this?
Control in leadership: less is more
The lesson can be applied directly to leadership. In stressful situations - when there is uncertainty, time pressure or a lack of trust - many managers tend to exert even more control. However, this often leads to the exact opposite: instead of creating stability, trust decreases, uncertainty increases and the pressure becomes unbearable.
Less control - better team performance
Here are three examples of situations in which less control brings more success:
- Situation no. 1: Trust instead of control. When trust in a team member dwindles, the natural reaction is to introduce more rules and control mechanisms. But this only increases mistrust. The solution? Less control and more freedom. Trust will give you back more control in the long term.
- Situation no. 2: Uncertainty as an opportunity. In unpredictable markets, many try to introduce detailed processes to tame the chaos. But more control does not lead to stability. Accept the chaos and train your team to react flexibly to new opportunities. Uncertainty offers room for creative ideas.
- Situation no. 3: Time pressure? Let go of control. When under time pressure, managers tend to monitor more closely. But more control increases the pressure. Instead, you should set clear goals for your team and let them go. Give them autonomy instead of monitoring every step. This promotes efficiency and creativity.
Conclusion: Letting go of control to regain control
Less control can often lead to more success. Instead of wanting to have everything under control, you should focus on vision, clear goals and trust. This will allow your team to develop its full potential. So the call to action is: Less control, more success.
When was the last time you consciously relinquished control? Think about where you could give yourself more freedom in order to promote long-term stability and success.
To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch
