Imagine this analogy; you're the office fire warden, a fire is raging in your office, and your people are scrambling to get out. The fire department is on the way so you try to help fight the fire before they get there, but there are spot fires appearing all around you. You exhaust all the fire extinguishers available and suddenly you feel like you're going to be engulfed in the flames very quickly, so you run outside.
"Oh no, are my people safe? Did they all survive?" you think... You realize your duties are to lead them to safety and make sure they're all accounted for, but in your willingness to get your hands dirty and help out, you forgot your purpose.
Like this forgetful fire warden, we often forget that our function as the manager of a team is to keep the people safe. Leading them out of the danger of the fire is SO much more important than getting in and fighting the fire. I have consistently seen managers (including yours truly!) get too involved with fighting the fire, only to turn around and realize some of the people are injured, or worse, gone!
Tips for fire fighting:
It is during the stressful times that the team needs the leader to remain focused on the big picture, steady the ship and protect the team.
Stand up for them, protect them from politics, fight for their well-being and check on their sanity often.
Ensure they're maintaining a positive outlook and help them to see the future through the flames they're currently dealing with and let them know you have their back.
Forget your need to get in and help; at best you're a hindrance, at worst you're micro managing and frustrating the team!
To leave with a final thought; several years ago as a young engineer, things weren't looking good for my company. I wondered what would happen next, I spent far too much time worrying about the future of my career at that place, and whether I was doing the right thing. There was one defining moment from a person I now call an important mentor, that could have had the biggest impact with a very small moment - he was certainly acting as a fire warden:
Dylan: Hi (boss). How are you?
Boss: Dude, I'm frigging awesome! How are you?
The gusto with which he said this and the enthusiasm he showed me that day, changed the way I worked for the rest of the year! I went back to my desk, ultra focused, and probably helped us get through those tough times successfully. I told this mentor of his impact on me about a year later, a joy I now get to experience when I've successfully had the same impact on someone!
I remember that moment every day I come in to work. During the hard times I (try to) smile, I greet as many people as possible, and I thoroughly enjoy what it results in. My face is like a book and it can be taxing but the team will thank you back exponentially with their success and gratitude!