A frayed shift cable taught me that leading means showing, not just telling

I was showing a younger mechanic how to replace a shift cable. He cut it too short and panicked. My first thought was to just do it for him to save time. But I took a breath and walked him through why length matters. Seeing his relief when it worked made me see that good management is about calm guidance. Now, I always explain the 'why' behind each step. This turns small mistakes into chances for everyone to grow.

3 comments

3 Comments

craig.mila2mo ago

But what if someone just needs you to fix it fast sometimes? I mean idk maybe over-explaining every little mistake can slow things down too much.

blair_webb2mo ago

Ever seen a band-aid on a broken pipe? That's what fast fixes are. They stop the leak for five minutes then flood the whole house. Taking the time to explain the actual problem is what keeps it from happening again next week. Skipping that just means you'll be right back here doing the same "fast" fix over and over. It feels slower now but saves a ton of time later.

wesley1812mo ago

Fast fixes create future work though. Then you're just setting up the next emergency.