Are You Stuck in the Weeds? Here’s What You Do

Leaders who spend a lot of time on the ground, working within their teams, can help build a strong foundation of communication, collaboration, and trust, leading to significant benefits. However, leading this way also leads to the possibility of getting stuck in the weeds more often than one would like. Getting stuck in the weeds can halt your personal growth, progress, and timeliness, leading to burnout or lowered motivation. It’s wise to lead within your team, but you have to draw the line between leading and getting stuck. 

What “Being in the Weeds” Looks Like

“Boss, the air conditioner went out. Can you send a memo to the janitors?” 

“Boss, what’s the proper structure for this email?” 

“Boss, this client is being difficult. Can you just talk to them for me?” 

“Boss, my phone seems to be disconnected. Can you send in a work ticket?” 

You’ve heard some version of these questions thrown at you, but now imagine they are thrown at you all at once. Being in the weeds is the feeling of overwhelming responsibility over various tasks and projects that you have taken on. You suddenly have the workload of multiple people because you agree to help. You are entangled with small, seemingly high priority tasks that take over your position and distract you from what you should be doing. 

Does this sound familiar to you? Well, here’s your weed cutter to success. 

Here’s How to Get Out: 

1. Understand Your Place in the Big Picture  

You are a leader for a reason — to lead. Your team is looking to you for guidance and support, and while sometimes it can be inevitable to take on a task or two, you must remember your role. This is your chance to understand your place in the big picture. As a leader, you are looking for those who can handle larger responsibilities, are eager to learn, and can take on problems in your place. You are not there to answer or solve every minor issue that might come up, but you are there to understand who could do those things instead. You must step back and see the big picture. 

2. Set Clear Boundaries and Establish Expectations

Once you have that big picture in your mind, you can work toward setting boundaries and expectations for your team members. When it comes to boundaries, you must be respectful of your own time. You will have meetings and projects of your own, and it would be wise to have a public calendar so your team can see when you are free and when it is appropriate to come to you. Then, regarding expectations, you must ensure your team members know their responsibilities. As a leader, you must give clear instructions to make sure everyone knows what is expected of them. They will be more willing to stay in their lanes and eager to handle issues on their own when they know this information. 

3. Delegate Tasks Appropriately

It might not be a natural instinct to delegate tasks to others. It can be easy to assume that we can do it and possibly that we will do it better than anyone else. However, this is exactly how we get stuck in the weeds. It is time to see who in your team can take on these smaller tasks and assign them appropriately. Delegation can get projects off your plate, but it can also be a morale and motivational boost to those you assign the tasks as you show them you trust them to complete them. 

4. Develop Measurable Goals

The best way to keep you on track with your own projects and tasks is to set measurable goals for yourself. These goals can ensure you don’t get sidetracked with menial work. Goals are not just beneficial to you, though. You can set goals for your team members, ensuring they are on track with their work. This can help them stay focused and become proactive toward their own problems, making them more eager to figure them out on their own so they can continue working toward their goals. When you can track your progress toward your goals, you can clearly see how much you are accomplishing. 

At some point in our careers, we are all going to get stuck in the weeds. The most important part is getting ourselves out. If you have further questions or wish to become a stronger leader for your team, send me a message or contact the team at Wickham James.