Cognitive overload. Decision fatigue. Stress.
We are in an age of 24 hour-7 days a week interruption, and as expectations mount, our ability to make wise choices diminishes. We see this in Exodus when Moses was literally making all the decisions for the children of Israel. One might say that, of course, Moses definitely needed to take the steps that he did in Exodus 18:24-27 and delegate the work to trusted, competent individuals.
Trusted, competent individuals.
And this is where we struggle so much as managers. We are ultimately responsible, but in our exhaustion and overload, we aren’t making the best decisions. But to trust somebody else is more than a little challenging.
There is a series of events that take place, starting with one that is easily missed.
Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said.
He didn’t have to do everything, but obviously the advice resonated well enough for Moses to do everything. Bottom line, he was exhausted and could not sustain his work. The wise decision here is seeking counsel. Finding agreement in all advice is rare, but it does provide insight.
After that reflection, he discovered he must mentor people he found as competent in the expectations he had, and then trust them. As managers, company owners, team leads, and family members, we must also demonstrate Moses’ skill in listening, mentoring, and trusting.
Comments are closed