I was recently playing the somewhat unofficial role of leader in putting on an event with a group of my peers. With just a few weeks left before the event, the venue, which had been booked for months, suddenly closed its doors. I put it out to the group requesting that someone take on the responsibility of finding a new venue. Only 2 people responded and both nominated me! In the interest of getting the job done, I agreed to take on the leadership, only IF everyone pitched in and did their part. Again only 2 people responded (a different two) to say that they didn't know how and couldn't help. My initial reaction was to feel angry and want to just do it myself so I'd know it was done right. Instead I chose to calmly reframe the issue and mirror back the limiting beliefs to those involved and gently and positively hold them accountable for doing their part. In the end, everyone pitched in, the objective was accomplished, everyone had ownership and I was neither "stuck with all the work" (by myself) nor resentful of them for having been "stuck" with all the work.

In the various leadership/management positions I've held (and I've witnessed so many others in leadership roles doing this), the temptation when others "drop the ball" is to get angry and resentful and close off and feel that you have to do a job yourself to get it done right. This is not leadership. Leadership is taking responsibility for the bigger picture. It lies not in doing the job yourself but in taking responsibility for inspiring others to step into their power, to take healthy risks, to not get stuck, to be creative and to own a part of the process so that everyone can succeed.