The 5-10x Rule

As a leader, your job is to empower your team. Empowerment requires decision making frameworks -- in other words, rules. (here's one) Another rule that works like a charm is my 5-10x rule.

Explain to your team that each step up on the totem pole, the person's time is worth 5-10x as much. So, when they have a problem, if they can solve it 5-10x faster by asking a question of their manager -- ask away! If not, figure it out on your own (try things, call support, etc.).

Note that you have to explain decision making frameworks. They're not a given, not always intuitive and not the same at every organization. To empower, you have to educate and reenforce.

This is also a great rule for yourself and other leaders. If you are doing things that AREN'T 5-10x more valuable than your team, its time to make changes, pronto. This rule forces you to think about leverage and how to make your time exponentially more valuable.