Building a team who think like owners.

Some days it can feel like it's up to you to think for every role inside your business.

You feel like you’ve got to make every tiny decision (with the help of a couple of others), while the rest of the team is just waiting for instruction.

This was exactly how I felt in a previous business. 

And it all came flooding back last week when I was chatting with a guy who was having trouble getting his team to think and see the day like he did.

He was bogged down with loads of silly little questions and interruptions.

It can be incredibly frustrating when every single question, problem, enquiry, or major crisis flows directly back to you. 

Especially when you’ve got your own operational role to play too.

It still makes me shudder thinking about those days.

• Who was the last person to use the mop, the handle’s broken...
• The newspaper is on the phone and wanted to ask about…
• Have you seen that the back door isn’t closing properly?
• The local school was wondering if we’d donate to…
• There’s a delivery driver waiting for a signature.
• Someone’s taken the key to blah home.
• Sam hasn’t shown up to his shift.
• Are there peanuts in this dish?
• Where does this delivery go?
• I can’t get wifi working.

Arrgh!

Meanwhile, none of this was on your list of shit to do or think about today.

I remember gritting my teeth and thinking, we can grow through this.

But as our team grew, I felt like I was now thinking for 50 people instead of 15. 

If you read my emails you’ll know that one of the biggest things I did to solve that was find ONE incredible person.

Then another, and another.

But I came across something recently that I wish I knew back then and I wanted to share it with you in case you’re in that exact place I described where all roads lead to you. 

It’s a super short video of a Navy submarine captain talking about his experience in taking control of a submarine and trying to change the culture of making decisions. 

The reason it’s relatable is because there was one leader who normally made all the decisions, a few others who helped and a hundred others waiting for instructions. 

What made it worse was that’s what they were trained to do - Take orders. 

So his task was harder than ours. 

Watch this quick video and then I’ll share my thoughts with you on how to use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=xiEUrjhF4iTmUzS9&v=psAXMqxwol8&feature=youtu.be

The first thing I noticed is that he is a good communicator.

Being clear with the team about the change in expectations would be critical at first.

Resetting the expectations that you're going to use questions and place the accountability back on them as the expert to know the solution.

The second thing I noticed is that he gets people thinking like him - The captain.

(and not like themselves)

At a glance, there's some interesting psychology at play here.

Maybe it’s easier to get someone to think like the captain (ie someone else) than think for themselves because they don't perceive themselves as the expert?

I know for me it often feels more tangible and concrete to ask "What would an expert do in this situation".

For example: “ What would the Captain do in this situation”

Rather than: “What should I do in this situation”

It’s subtle, but pretty powerful.

To use that I imagine you'd still field every single enquiry that was fired at you each day but you'd meet it with a question instead of giving an instruction.

Like this for instance:

Hey Jarrod,

Where does this go…?

“Uhhh, just put it in the back storeroom with the other deliveries.” You say...

(Confirming to them that it's your job to think...)

Versus

"Hey Jarrod, where does this go?"

“Where do you think I would put it?” You reply

"The storeroom." They reply.

Good.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

And slowly you'll create momentum.

Now, this isn’t meant to free you up immediately.

It’s meant to nudge the culture towards a team of thinkers so you can multiply outcomes as you grow.

Imagine a team where everyone knows their craft, understands the impacts of their decisions on the next person and has thought about the next steps and consequences in advance.

Wow. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!

And this subtle language shift might just be the first stepping stone you need to get there.

I hope it helps.