Hand back the pen to deepen accountability

Early in my management career, I’d jump into every problem, convinced my presence saved the day. I prided myself on ‘rescuing’ projects and stayed late nights fixing code and decks.

Then I read about a partner at McKinsey who always handed the pen back. Intrigued, I tried it: I coached a struggling report writer, scribbled a few diagram ideas on his page, then said, “Your turn to fill in the blanks.” I watched him solve it solo, his face lighting up in confidence.

That night, as I walked to my car, I realized I’d created a better leader, not a hero for myself. The next day, he asked fewer ‘what next?’ questions and delivered on time—often earlier. He owned that story.

Management guru David Marquet calls this “leader‐leader” instead of “leader‐follower.” By passing the pen, you shift from being the star to building stars.

Next time you see your junior ask for a solution, sketch one idea, then hand them back the page with, “Your move.” Watch their confidence bloom as they own the outcome. And I’ll bet they’ll ask fewer hand‐me‐down questions tomorrow.