I admire leaders who seek input from their teams. The practice helps build trust and understanding, as well as providing new perspectives and alerting about potential pitfalls. I know many of my ideas have been improved by comments from my staff, and they surely have saved me from missteps.
But there are also times when the leader needs to tell, instead of ask. If a change is mandated, a decision has been made, or unpopular news must be communicated, the leader needs to firmly announce that, without the pretense of seeking input.
A leader can also “tell” when it comes to setting expectations or delegating assignments. It’s great to offer choice or input when possible, but having conversations about everything drains time and the team’s spirit rather than enhancing it.
It’s not “don’t ask, don’t tell,” rather, ask and tell — just be intentional about when to do each.
