In this age of instant connectivity, patience can be difficult.

In this entry in my ongoing series of video blogs “Leadership in the Information Age,” I review the idea of “Tactical Patience.”

As a leader, you must resist the impulse to immediately intercede in a situation. The first thing you need to do is listen. Observe the situation and ask the power questions which enable your team to organize and address the issue.

Leadership in the information age is based on fire prevention, not fire-fighting. Create the systems which empower your team to put out those fires.

You, as a leader, provide the direction and support your team will use to take action based on your mission, values, and culture. But you need to be patient and allow your team the opportunity to respond to a situation before becoming involved yourself.

Take two minutes to watch this video by clicking on the image below, and learn more about the concept of “Tactical Patience”: