Humans Leading Humans

Humans leading humans is either a recipe for disaster or a recipe for something extraordinary — elevation, productivity, trust, even love. Most of the time, the difference comes down to one thing we stop making: time.

Here's the trap I see in nearly every business I coach.

The leader is frustrated: "I've asked for this five different ways and it's still not getting done." Meanwhile the employee is sitting there thinking: "I'm not clear on what you want, and I don't feel safe enough to ask." Two people, both trying, completely disconnected — and neither one saying it out loud.

That gap doesn't close with a better process. It closes with a conversation.

"Hey, you're not delivering." "Oh — I didn't realize that. What were you expecting?"

That exchange takes thirty seconds. But most of us never make room for it, because in a fast-paced world the first thing to get squeezed out is the time to actually connect. We keep the structure and cut the humanity. Then we wonder why the structure isn't working.

So make the time. Make time to lead your people. Make time to learn from your boss. Build a space where it's safe to say "I'm stuck" or "I don't understand" — because trust is what makes everything else run.

And here's the shift that changed how I lead:

Leadership is not delegating the work you don't want to do. It's finding what your people are genuinely great at, handing them the vision of where you're headed, and then getting out of the way so they can rise to it.

When I do that, something surprising happens. I set out to elevate them — and they end up elevating me.

Humans elevating leaders. Maybe there's a book in that.

So make time to elevate yourself as a leader. Make time for the people you're lifting up. Make time for yourself, and for those you love.

Make time. It's the whole job.

iM Coach Bob. Peace.