Having trouble delegating? Unable or unwilling to empower your people and let them exert some leadership?
You’re not alone. It takes time to liberate people’s performance, groom their leadership, and work through their inevitable mistakes. Plus, it can be difficult to delegate to staff already overworked and, as a result, at risk of leaving the organization.
Maybe Ukrainian General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi can help. The “Iron General” has achieved numerous victories over Russian invaders in a war that, nonetheless, will see no end any time soon.
Ukraine has made substantial advances against great odds, slowed recently only by the onset of winter. Why? Because unlike calcified Russian military leaders, who seem to operate with an 18th Century mindset, Zaluzhnyi trusts his people on the ground, listens to them, and empowers them to make decisions. This is one major reason why Ukrainian forces have moved with speed, creativity, and opportunism.
This is simply not possible with Russia’s hidebound, imperious military leadership. Russian troops are poorly educated and trained and seen largely as “cannon” fodder by their superiors. They are taught to obey orders and otherwise shut up. This makes them slow, resentful, alienated, unimaginative, and far less effective.
Former Ukraine Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk told The Financial Times (19-20 November) that Zaluzhnyi “allows others to realize their capacities and talents.” It seems that the gruff-looking “Iron General” is accessible, develops his people, shares credit, and understands that he cannot do it alone. None of us in organizational life can.
