Every interaction leaders have with their team members impacts trust, engagement, retention, innovation and much more. Learning how to lessen the impulse to respond immediately is important as a leader. The urge to dive right in and fix a problem is strong, but resist the temptation! Here are eight things that you can do to support your team in better decision-making, independence and development.

1. Don’t buy into the narrative that it’s helping and saving time by providing the answers (and who says your answers are right?). Give your employees a chance to develop their intuition and creative business solution capabilities by allowing them to problem-solve ideas on their own. According to a recent study by SAP SuccessFactors and Oxford Economics, “Leaders 2020,” companies that cultivate a diverse workforce and take a broad range of employee perspectives into account are better poised to succeed in a global economy – and keep employees happy and engaged.
2. Stop talking and simply ask, “What do you think?” You’d be surprised at the solutions your team members offer that you’ve never even considered.
3. Let it go and take a deep breath. If you are used to quickly responding, this might feel painful at first, but with time, you’ll grow accustomed to it. Will it hurt to wait an extra hour or day for a resolution? Pause, and let your team member reply first.
4. “I’m working on this.” It’s OK to let your team know that something is a weak spot for you. Ask them to keep you honest and let you know when you’ve jumped in too quickly. Feedback is a gift.
5. Is risk-taking a part of your corporate culture? Make it a goal for yourself. On small projects, provide less direction and input. Sit back and check out the amazing results your team members deliver.
6. For more complex challenges, introduce your team to productivity and ideation apps, and let them lead the way.
7. Absence of proof isn’t proof of absence. Give your employee a chance to weigh in. If it makes you feel better, set a “complete by” time or date.
8. Finally, let go of the feeling that if you aren’t involved in the decision, the outcome won’t be a success. If you can’t support your team’s independence, you aren’t providing a culture of growth and harmony.

As we move further into 2017, these techniques will save you a great deal of effort down the line when there are even more balls in the air and projects to deliver. Your team will become empowered, inspired and energized, and they will thank you for being that supportive leader you always knew you were.

To discover how your organization compares to “Digital Winners” and others in your industry, region, function, and company size, take the Leaders 2020 Benchmarking Survey here. You will be able to identify gaps in business strategy, talent strategy and technology priorities, and to identify areas for increased focus to drive success in the digital economy.