Permission

Have you ever found yourself irritated by someone asking something obvious to get the go ahead from you? Or, in that weird spot where you'd usually be quite happy to go ahead but started guessing someone's reaction to your move?

Both are two sides of the same coin. Distrust moolah. That slightly icky, nervous permission asking is quite the opposite of a check in, a healthy process or an open, "can I get your opinion?" question. Permission seeking and permission granting tend to be strung to tighter leadership reigns. I've often seen it, more in hindsight. Someone who is leading might look super knowledgeable and established as the expert... But accumulating knowledge and granting freedom to share trust with others are two different skills. The more knowledgeable we become in our careers doesn't automatically grant us a pass to increasing our ability to lead generously or spot and celebrate different people's talents. It takes boldness to articulate and draw out gifts in other people that we might see as weakness in ourselves or don't prioritise.

When I've found myself in a position where someone's asking my permission (over knowledge or opinion). I take a step back and wonder, where am I shielding someone else's confidence or natural talents? It's in that moment I need to step up and make more effort for them to see their own greatness and abilities.