Come In and Have a Seat in My Chair

Walk A Mile in My Shoes

We all know the concept of walking a mile in another person’s shoes.  It’s about gaining another person’s unique perspective.  As you seek to gain buy-in from others, it would be easier if they could walk a mile in your shoes.  Since that’s an impractical figure-of-speech, here’s a short-cut tactic that can lead to similar perspective enhancement with those you lead.

Asking for Feedback

Avoid guessing. Be open and authentic in engaging others to solve challenges. A client who is the senior leader of an executive team shared this tactic:

“When I’m not sure what to do with a direct report, I invite them to my office and ask them to sit in my chair. Then I ask them what they would do if they were in my shoes.”

 Why Does this Work?

• People are flattered when you ask them for their opinions and advice.
• You expand the subordinate’s frame of reference to encompass yours.

 Invitations

Since it isn’t practical for your direct reports to walk in your shoes, I recommend that you find the right occasions to invite them to sit in your chair.

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Related

• Feedback: Breakfast of Champions
• The Door to My Office is Always Open, or is it?

 Acknowledgement:  The chair idea comes from Chuck Reynolds’ Growing Coaches Blog.