November 1, 2026

What's Your Plan?

Dear Uncommon Leaders,

Welcome to November! 🍁 Not only a new month, but as the year soon comes to a close, it's also a great opportunity to ensure we finish 2026 strong!

Hope most of you were also able to grab an extra hour of rest this weekend as daylight savings time ends and you're ready to take on the week. ⏰↩️ Be sure to make the most of it, Leaders!

Let's go be uncommon!

This Week's Question:

Do you have questions ready that help develop your leaders?

This Week's Challenge:

“What’s your plan?”

That was often my first response when one of my leaders came to me with a problem. It challenged them to think and get on the solution side of the problem. After hearing that question a few times, they knew to come prepared with some ideas.

It’s easy to fall into lazy leadership by always providing the answer or coming to the rescue. Should we be willing to help? Absolutely. But being the solution every time doesn’t help our people grow.

We need to encourage them to think, get creative and try some things before bringing a problem to us.

I call this stress deflection. When someone brings me a problem and I immediately take responsibility for solving it, their stress becomes mine. Asking “What’s your plan?” keeps ownership with them while giving me an opportunity to coach.

More often than not, that question sends them back to thinking—and they figure it out. They grow in confidence and capability, and I gain capacity to focus on the things that need my attention.

There are certainly exceptions. Some problems are complex enough to require everyone’s thinking. And we need our people to speak up quickly when something needs our involvement. But many everyday problems can be worked through before they reach the leader.

Your challenge this week is twofold:

First, look at how you approach your own leader. Are you helping reduce their stress by bringing possible solutions, or are you simply handing them problems?

Second, put “What’s your plan?” into your regular conversations. The next time a leader tosses a problem in your lap, pause before providing the answer. Give them room to think, and coach them from there.

Let’s develop some people this week by helping them take ownership of solutions.

They’ll grow—and so will you!

This Week's Quote to Ponder:

“Instead of leaping in to fix things when someone comes to you with a problem, get curious and help them find their own answer.”— Michael Bungay Stanier“Well done is better than well said.”-Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac