Minute With Mallon: Let Them Build It!

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the idea that people rarely resist their own ideas.

I had a great opportunity to teach that again with a client recently.

He’s bringing on a new pre-construction manager—25 years of experience. Sharp guy. Knows what he’s doing.

We were working through a big goal that this new leader would play a major role in. The natural instinct was for them to sit down together and build the plan.

That sounds collaborative… but it’s not always the most effective.

So I challenged him.

I said, “Instead of building the plan with him… what if you let him build it?”

Give him the objective. Give him the outcome. Then let him come back with the plan.

And here’s why.

People rarely resist their own ideas.

But I also shared something else with him…

A lot of leaders say they want ownership from their team—but then they stay too involved in how things get done.

And without realizing it, they limit the very people they hired for their experience.

When someone has 25 years of experience, they don’t need you to show them how to think. They need you to trust them enough to use what they already know.

That’s where ownership really begins.

And no—it may not look exactly like how you would do it.

But if they build it, they’ll believe in it.

If they believe in it, they’ll fight for it.

And if they fight for it… you’ll get a much better result.

So here’s something worth thinking about:

Where might you be over-involved right now?

And where do you need to step back so someone else can step up?

Because great leaders don’t just create results…

They create ownership.

Now, this won’t work with everyone—and it’s not supposed to.  Newer team members need more guidance. But experienced people? They need trust.

And when you give it to the right person… that's when things really take off.

Something to Ponder: 

The key to a great work ethic is to have a great rest ethic!

Kevin Kelly

Something I Learned: 

For years now, I have tried to live on a daily basis somewhere outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not, but it keeps me in growth mode.  Risk keeps things exciting, and helps us stretch to the best person we can possibly be. 

I just finished a book called "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Gotta Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg. In it, I read these words of truth which resonated with me. Hopefully they will with you too. 

Larry Laudan, a philosopher of science, has spent the last decade studying risk-management. He writes of how we live in a society so fear-driven that we suffer from what he calls risk-lock—a condition which, like gridlock, leaves us unable to do anything or go anywhere.

Eileen Guder wrote, You can live on bland food so as to avoid an ulcer, drink no tea, coffee or other stimulants in the name of health, go to bed early, stay away from night life, avoid all controversial subjects so as never to give offense, mind your own business, avoid involvement in other people’s problems, spend money only on necessities and save all you can. You can still break your neck in the bath tub, and it will serve you right.

(Haha! 🤣)

At some point, you realize it’s not about avoiding risk… it’s about choosing the right risk. 

Because staying safe might protect you from failure—but it will also keep you from becoming who you’re meant to be. 

So here’s the question:

Where is God asking you to step out right now… and what’s holding you back?

👉 Reply directly with comment or idea:Robert@RobertMallon.com

Something I Saw: 

Favorite Time of the Year!

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Hope you have an incredible week! 

Robert