Kicking off a mentorship training program last week, I asked each participant to share one outcome they hoped to get from the sessions. A consistent theme bubbled to the top: Guide, Don’t Solve.
How many of us have been stuck in the endless loop of, “I’ll do it this time, and next time I’ll show you how”? Yet, “next time” never comes. Deadlines loom, clients wait, and the focus shifts to getting the job done as quickly as possible.
In the short term, this approach delivers results. But long term? That knowledge transfer never happens. The employee doesn’t learn the skill. Your delegation list stalls. And you remain stuck in the same cycle. Sound familiar?
Now, I know - guiding takes longer upfront. Precious time we don’t have. But consider this: spending 20 minutes teaching a task today could save you hours down the road. The long-term ROI on building that confidence and independence is undeniable, but how do we make it manageable?
💡 Start Small and Build Up.
Don’t try to guide through your biggest, most urgent project first. Identify a task that’s relatively low-risk and let someone else take the lead with your guidance. For example, instead of fixing a report, review it together and ask, “What would you change?”
💡Break it Into Steps.
Coaching doesn’t have to happen all at once. Spread the guidance over multiple smaller tasks. For instance, walk them through one part of a process today, then tackle the next step tomorrow.
💡Schedule It.
Set aside intentional time for teaching during a lull in your schedule. This ensures you’re not trying to guide during a high-pressure moment. Think of it as an investment in smoother workflows later.
💡Lean on Open-Ended Questions.
Instead of giving answers, ask questions that encourage problem-solving:
“How would you approach this?”
“What do you think the client is asking for here?”
This shifts ownership to the other person while you provide direction as needed.
💡Be Ready for Imperfection.
The first few attempts may be bumpy and that’s okay. Over time, they’ll gain the confidence and competence to take on more independently.
Give it a try. This week, pick one task or decision and be intentional about guiding instead of solving. Make it a moment to invest in someone else’s development - and perhaps lighten your workload a bit in the future. Win/win!
