Situation—You hoard information to boost your power

You are the primary contact for a client on a complex project. Because you want to cement your standing as the "go-to" person and play up your indispensability to the client and your employer, you withhold key bits of information from others on your team. Often, you are the only one that can answer certain questions about the project. Your strategy (conscious or unconscious) is working - you’re securing your position and power within the organization. In reality, you may look like someone who hoards information and jeopardizes the project.

Tip—Share information to gain power and influence

Hoarding information may seem like a smart strategy in an ultra-competitive workplace, but it can backfire on you and leave you branded as a bottleneck in your organization. Withholding knowledge that is vital to a project can leave your team members confused, isolated, and ultimately, resentful of their powerlessness. Some co-workers may simply withdraw, leaving you without the benefit of ideas that might have added to the quality of your product. More determined colleagues will figure out a way to circumvent your stonewalling, which will highlight the fact (probably to your superiors) that you are not acting in the best interests of the company - instead of seeming like the powerful "go-to" contact, you’ll be seen as small-minded, stingy and insecure.

Hoarding can also affect your image as the primary client contact. If the client calls in when you are unavailable to answer questions and can’t find a team member who seems remotely in the loop, you’ll soon be dealing with a crisis of confidence. And you get to take all the blame, because - well, you know – you’re the only one who knows everything!

You can break the hoarding habit by acting with courage instead of fear. Authentic leadership qualities bloom when you confidently commit to sharing information, delegating power and giving your entire team an opportunity to shine. An effective leader takes time to impart all information needed for successful execution of a project. Explaining details, welcoming questions, encouraging ideas, showing interest in team members’ professional growth and providing opportunities to stretch, while providing the client with the image of a focused, dedicated team - these things will make you the "go-to" power, and highlight your leadership skills and influence.

For more handy tips related to information-sharing, check out:

What you don't share can hurt, not help you!

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