For a long time, I was not very good at creating space for my team to solve problems without me.
And honestly, my team was never the problem. I was.
Not because I did not trust them. Quite the opposite. My team is awesome. But the business felt so deeply connected to me. I had built it, carried it and poured so much of myself into it that stepping back from every little issue did not come naturally.
The habit of fixing everything
Like a lot of business owners, I would jump in. Fix it. Solve it. Keep things moving.
For a while, that feels productive. You are moving fast, removing roadblocks and keeping the wheels turning.
But over time, I realised that if I kept fixing every problem, I was not creating room for the team to grow. I was creating a business that stayed too dependent on me.
And honestly, it is exhausting.
Letting go is not stepping away
What I have had to learn is that letting go does not mean stepping away. It means shifting how I lead.
I feel more involved than ever, just in the right space. I still care deeply. I still have high standards. But my role cannot be to solve every problem anymore.
My role is to support the team, create space for them to step up and focus on evolving the business in the right direction.
Where real growth happens
Growth does not happen when everything runs through one person. It happens when the team builds confidence, takes ownership and the business owner creates the space to focus on the bigger picture.
Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about building a team that does not always need you to have them.
That is a lesson I am still learning, and one that is shaping the next chapter of RSM.
Meet the team or read about our approach to strategy.
