I know I’m not the only parent who has a hard time letting go of their kids. Yet, allowing space and freedom to explore on their own is absolutely critical to their development. Having said that, a key component of this process is to keep an eye from a safe distance to ensure there are no unnecessary or irreversible risks being taken. I am currently in the middle of this balancing act with my daughter, and I know I’ll have to do the same thing with my son.
In any business setting, while working with other people (which is virtually all the time) this balance of independence while supporting/supervising can yield incredible results. Allow your colleagues, your clients, and even your boss if you have one, the space to explore and be autonomous, while ensuring that they do things in a safe and constructive way.
A recent 1-on-1 client of mine requested exactly this approach, so I let them drive each Excel training session while adding my guidance, feedback, and insights to save them from barking up the wrong tree and struggling unnecessarily.
If you’re currently working on a project that you feel stagnant in and would like some direction and even “supervised independence,” send me a message and I’d love to see if we’re a good fit to work together.