“You know, the way you just played it sounded the best,” said my friend Dan.
“Know why?”
I paused, waiting for a compliment. “Because you were playing my part.”
Gulp!
Dan is a guitarist far more accomplished on guitar than I am on piano, and so when he speaks, I listen. (It also helps that Dan Denison is an emeritus university professor and a long-time friend.)
We were jamming on “A Foggy Day” in London town, a favorite Gershwin tune of both of ours. As a soloist, I have no problem playing the piece, as an accompanist – whose role is “to comp” the chords (with occasional riffs) I suck.
Defining your role
Dan is teaching me how to play better with others musically, and so his advice is valuable for my development. His insights are also applicable to anyone in a leadership position.
At times when one is in management, either for the first time or even after years of practice, there may be a tendency to do someone else’s job. Doing so not only harms productivity – because you are trying to do two jobs – it is also demoralizing to the employee. It robs them of their confidence and thwarts their ability to learn on the job.
Leaders who recognize the limitations of their employees must apply that insight to themselves. Sometimes a leader covers for an employee because they are afraid to decide their future. Other times, they feel it is their job to help, but in reality, they are doing more harm than good.
Action steps
While leaders know the pitfalls, they still fall into this trap, so here are some things to keep in mind before “jumping in.”
Pause. Consider the situation. What is happening, and why is the employee not performing?
Provide guidance, not instruction. When speaking to the employee, act as a coach. Find out what is holding the individual back from performing up to par. You can provide pointers, but it is not your job to be the instructor.
Weigh your options. If the employee is not up to the job, do not prolong the pain. Be honest with the employee and explain why they are not doing the job. It may be an opportunity for them to do something different or find new opportunities.
Final word
“If you seek tranquility,” wrote Marcus Aurelius, “do less.” Tranquility in this case does not mean doing nothing; it means doing just enough so that you fulfill your role in ways that open the door for others to do their roles. You can assist, but you cannot do for them.
As for me, I remain a work in progress. Still practicing the Gershwin standard and learning to do less in order to do more – that is, creating something richer for collaboration rather than one-upmanship. And so I “comp on” one chord at a time.
Note: Dan Denison is a part of a musical duo Street Fiction. Click here to catch their demo.