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I walk into the office, buzzing after a major project went live at the weekend.
I hadn’t received any phone calls since Friday, so I assume everything went well.
The look on everyone’s faces suggest otherwise.
I learn there was an issue in the module I worked on.
I ask my manager: “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Pablo(a more senior engineer) fixed it. Don’t worry about it, everything is back to normal.”
We moved onto other topics.
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I felt terrible. My confidence was shattered.
A few weeks later, I brought it up with my manager:
“I wish you had called me.”
Their response:
“I was doing you a favour. Everything worked out, don’t worry about it”
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I learned an important leadership lesson.
My manager didn’t realise it, but their actions made me feel like a victim.
I didn't want/ask to be rescued.
Instead, I wanted to be the hero.
He could have done this by phoning me, asking for help and offering(not telling) to involve Pablo.
Your takeaway:
When a team member fails, be careful not make them the victim.
Let them be the hero.
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