For years, I thought the best way to get something done right was to do it myself. You know the saying: “If you want it done right, do it yourself.” I used to live by that mantra, believing it was the only way to maintain quality and control. But let’s be honest—it’s a recipe for burnout and missed growth opportunities.
Sound familiar? If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed by doing everything and anything, it’s time to reframe your approach.
As leaders, especially those of us striving for excellence, delegation feels like a loss of control. Why is it so hard to let go?
• Perfectionism: "No one can do it as well as I can."
• Speed: "It’s faster if I just do it myself."
• Fear: "What if it goes wrong and I have to fix it?"
• Guilt: "I don’t want to overwhelm my team."
The problem with these excuses? They’re just short-term fixes. Sure, you might save time today, but in doing so, you’re holding back the long-term growth of your team—and yourself.
I’ll never forget when my incredible mentor, Sandy Catour, encouraged me to read Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection. It was a game-changer and completely shifted how I viewed leadership and growth.
When I transitioned from being an Executive Assistant (EA) to Chief Operating Officer (COO), I quickly realized that scaling up my role meant scaling my ability to delegate. If I wanted to be a strong leader, I couldn’t keep handling everything myself.
Take recruiting, for example. I had never done it before, but when it became my responsibility, I had to learn fast. I figured things out, made mistakes, and refined my process. But as the business grew, I couldn’t keep everything in my hands. I had to trust my team to take on more. The real lesson? Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about trusting others to step in and make things even better.
Delegation isn’t about offloading tasks because you’re overwhelmed. It’s about multiplying your impact. Here’s how to delegate successfully:
• Identify Your Zone of Genius: Focus on what you do best and delegate the rest. Trust your team to handle tasks they excel at.
• Set Clear Expectations: Define what success looks like, but let your team decide how to get there.
• Start Small: Begin with small tasks, build trust through feedback, and celebrate progress. Trust grows over time—both ways.
• Coach, Don’t Critique: Mistakes are inevitable. Approach them as learning moments, not failures. Guide your team toward improvement.
When we created a new leadership role at StringCan, I had no blueprint to follow. The role didn’t exist, so I built it from scratch. Eventually, I found the right person to fill it, and they were a game-changer. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me an invaluable lesson: Letting go of what I could do allowed me to focus on what I should do—leading.
Here’s the hard truth: Trying to do everything yourself only leaves you exhausted, overwhelmed, and ineffective. Your team doesn’t need you to be the hero; they need you to lead. By trusting your team and giving them ownership, you unlock growth—for them and for your business.
So, what’s one thing you’re still holding onto that someone else could take off your plate? Let it go, and watch your leadership and team flourish.
Ready to scale your business and lead with confidence? Contact StringCan today to discover how we can help your team grow, thrive, and take your business to the next level.