Think about this for a second. When's the last time you delegated a task to a few of your employees and then walked away and let them handle it? As a leader, you have most likely done this more than a few times. Now, when is the last time you delegated a task and then jumped right in and got your knees dirty along with the employees or the team? The best leaders of all time have gotten their knees dirty right along with their team!
Lou Gerstner from IBM, who was featured in Fortune magazine, had a plaque behind his desk that read, "The desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world." Get in the trenches and fight with the troops. Would you stand out in the open, simply watching your troops fight, or would you jump right in and fight with them? Doing this is a very large part of being a great leader. When you jump in with your team and get your knees dirty, you gain many benefits.
One of these benefits is the respect of your team. A leader can be feared and this can be one way to lead, but when a leader is respected, something entirely new occurs. The team doesn't simply follow you because they know it's the thing to do or because they fear you. They follow you because they respect you. One person that respects you and follows you is worth 20 who follow you out of fear. When you fight alongside your team and you get in there to get the job done, you gain a certain amount of respect. This respect empowers you in a very different way than fear would.
Another benefit you gain is knowledge. You should never lead people to do something that you don't know how to do yourself. No matter what your project is, know it. When you get in and you get your knees dirty and you work your hardest, you will have the knowledge that will be very helpful to you. Many of the highest leaders don't know what their team does. The truth is that these people are probably not the best leaders, but remain that way through security or fear. Get in and get your knees dirty - work alongside your team and get in the trenches with them. You will be a better, more knowledgeable and respected leader.
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