Get Out of the Way, but When?

We have all heard that, as managers, we should not get in the way of our staff people doing their jobs. Michael Gerber’s famous line, “work on your business, not in your business,” from his book “E-Myth,” is one of the most frequently quoted lines in management.

It is especially favored by small-business owners who want to sit back and manage instead of work in the weeds. Harvey Mackay, who wrote “Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” offered the following piece of advice: “The single greatest mistake a manager can make is not getting out of the way! Provide goals, resources, and leadership. Your people don’t want restrictions, or someone telling them what to do, or rules. Knowing when to get out of the way is the key.”