3 Ways to Balance Bossing with Empowering

Good bosses strike a careful balance between telling people what to do and empowering them to do things on their own. Struggling with this balancing act is common, especially for new managers. Here are three ways to let others take ownership, while giving them what they need:
1. Make goals clear. Your job is to make sure the team understands its objectives. But, leave it up to team members to decide how to achieve those goals.
2. Share leadership. Identify informal leaders among the group who can take on roles such as heading up ad hoc task forces and arranging off-site meetings.
3. Ask for solutions, not problems. When your team members encounter an obstacle, ask them to come to you to explain the problem and present a proposed solution. Encourage them to problem solve before asking for your perspective.

Adapted from the Harvard Manage Mentor Online Module, "Team Management."