Shadowing Practice: The leadership mistake high performers make | Carla Harris - Learn English Speaking with Video

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As a senior leader, one of the most important things that you must stop doing is taking full responsibility for the execution.
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Now, this might be a tough one.
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Certainly, as a senior leader who loves execution, it was hard for me to relinquish the execution of the project.
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You cannot be the person that creates a vision, sells the vision, gives the team some guidance on how to execute,
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anticipate resources, anticipate other internal and external people that you need to collaborate with if you are mired down in the execution.
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It is important for you to understand when you should execute and when you should delegate.
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This is a very important distinction, especially for new managers who have been extraordinary individual contributors.
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You have to intentionally pull yourself from the execution.
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You can show someone how to do something once or twice
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but because it is your strong suit it will be easy for you to slide back into executing.
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So you have to have a level of awareness and intentionality where you say oh no no,
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no, no, I cannot do it.
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I have to depend on this person to do it.
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Also, if you're focused on developing your people, you must have them execute.
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And your job is to give them room to execute in whatever way might work for them.
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You have to make sure that you're not pushing your methodology
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or the way that you got it done when you were in their seats.
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While you must be clear on the objective, you must give them room on the how.
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And you might find that they're more innovative, they're more efficient, and they might even have a different outcome
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and a better outcome than you were expecting as a senior leader.
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And here's another thing that you might consider as a senior leader.
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Trust is really important.
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And if your people don't believe that you trust them to deliver, they over time will begin not to trust you.
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Articulating a measure of trust and belief in someone will also encourage them to try even harder.
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Say to them, I am going to let you all execute,
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but I am going to count on you and trust you to tell me when you need help.
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Even if you have a person that's coming to you asking question after question for every little detail.
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Now, again, as a manager, you have to step back and say, come on, you're pretty smart.
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That's why you're on my team.
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I have to let you do your best to kind of figure it out.
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And if you get it wrong, we're going to figure it out together.
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But I need you to try on your own because I know you can do it.
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Thank you.

Why practice speaking with this video?

This insightful video featuring Carla Harris emphasizes critical leadership lessons that can directly benefit English learners in developing their speaking skills. By engaging with the content, you can practice IELTS speaking techniques while gaining valuable insights into effective communication and delegation in a leadership context. This context encourages you to articulate ideas clearly and confidently, which is essential not only in professional settings but also during casual conversations. As you practice speaking, you will learn to express trust and awareness, two key components in any dialogue.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In her talk, Harris uses several important structures that are beneficial for learners aiming to enhance their english speaking practice:

  • “You cannot be the person that…” - This structure is useful for emphasizing negative responsibilities, helping learners frame their thoughts more assertively.
  • “You have to intentionally pull yourself from…” - This phrase illustrates the importance of intentionality, teaching learners to express the necessity of conscious actions.
  • “If your people don’t believe that you trust them…” - This conditional statement highlights cause and effect, which is essential for discussing relationships and expectations.
  • “I am going to count on you and trust you…” - This expression showcases how to convey reliance and encouragement, critical in both leadership and personal communication.

By shadowing these phrases, you can not only improve your improve english pronunciation but also practice how to convey leadership messages effectively.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice shadow speaking, pay attention to pronunciation, especially of certain words that can be challenging. For example:

  • “Execution” - The emphasis on the second syllable can often be mispronounced. Focus on how Harris stresses it to highlight its importance.
  • “Trust” - A simple word but often rushed; practice elongating the vowel sound to ensure clarity.
  • “Intentionality” - This word can trip many speakers up; breaking it down into smaller syllables can aid in better pronunciation.

By carefully listening and repeating these terms, you can solidify your ability to express complex ideas clearly while enhancing your overall english speaking practice. Join the journey to perfect your speaking skills as you absorb the lessons from effective leaders like Carla Harris!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.