Okay, imagine you’re coaching a football team. You wouldn’t micromanage every player’s every move on the field, would you? You’d set the overall strategy, train them on the plays, and then trust them to make decisions in the heat of the game.

That’s because you understand that empowerment is key to success. When players feel trusted and empowered, they’re more likely to take initiative, make smart decisions, and ultimately, win the game.

The same principle applies to Program Recovery. As the Program Recovery Manager, your leadership style can make or break the project’s turnaround. And one of the biggest pitfalls you need to avoid is micromanagement.

Think of micromanagement as a disease that suffocates a project. When you centralize all decision-making authority, you essentially cripple your team. They become demotivated, disengaged, and ultimately, less effective. They start pushing every tough decision upwards, creating bottlenecks and delays.

Instead, you need to foster a culture of empowerment. This means:

• Clearly defining roles and responsibilities: Everyone on the team needs to know what they’re responsible for and what decisions they’re empowered to make. This clarity provides a sense of ownership and accountability.
• Decentralizing decision-making: Push decision-making down to the lowest appropriate level. This allows for faster, more agile responses to challenges and empowers team members to take ownership of their work.
• Encouraging initiative: Create a safe space for people to take calculated risks and make decisions without fear of reprisal. This fosters innovation and proactive problem-solving.

Now, you might be thinking, “But what about consensus? Don’t we need everyone to agree on the scope and requirements?”

Yes, consensus is important, especially in the early stages of a project. But it shouldn’t be the sole decision-making process. Over-reliance on consensus can lead to endless debates, analysis paralysis, and ultimately, project stagnation.

Think of it like this: you wouldn’t ask the entire football team to vote on every play during the game. You need a quarterback to call the shots and make quick decisions based on the situation.

The key is to find the sweet spot between consensus and empowerment. Establish clear roles and responsibilities, define decision-making authority at each level, and trust your team to make the right calls.

Of course, this doesn’t mean giving your team free rein to do whatever they want. You still need to provide guidance, oversight, and support. But the goal is to create an environment where they feel empowered to take initiative, make smart decisions, and contribute their best work to the project’s recovery.

Remember, a successful Program Recovery isn’t just about fixing technical issues; it’s about empowering your team to be part of the solution. By fostering a culture of trust, autonomy, and accountability, you unleash their potential and pave the way for a truly collaborative and effective turnaround.