AS A DANCER, I’VE always been drawn to movies about performance. In the movie The Greatest Showman, there is a part where PT Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, says “Men suffer more from imagining too little than too much.”
This line made me pause and hit rewind because it’s true not just in life, but in how we run our practices. In working with thousands of ODs, one trend continues to pop up: We dream too small, especially when it comes to how and when we involve our teams.
Author Daniel Pink distinguishes problem solvers — who come up with a solution before gaining all the necessary knowledge and jump in — from problem finders, who come in with curiosity, ask questions, and let the work unfold. Which hat are you wearing?
We pride ourselves on solving patient problems quickly. Then when it comes to solving our own, we freeze, thinking someone maybe can’t do it like I would. Which gives you a way out of asking for help or change, which leads to workflow inefficiencies, stagnant growth, and distrust from staff.
Why? Because solving those problems would require letting go of some of the hats we’ve been wearing for far too long.
The smaller your mindset, the more hats you get to wear. Not delegating tasks that others are capable of doing is not heroic, it’s a problem. I’ve been there but I quickly learned that 51% done by someone else is still done. If you find yourself saying things like, “They won’t do it like I would” you’re giving yourself permission not to accept help. Allow your team to become problem finders; you’ll be surprised what they are capable of. Stop being the bottleneck in your own business. How often do you have to give the stamp of approval? Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about building systems and processes to make it all run smoothly and if done well… without you!
Advertisement
The first step? Let your team take the demos and pitches from sales reps. Now do your homework with the data they gathered, trust them and make a decision.
You don’t need to be everywhere. You need to be spending your time doing the right things. Because vision … real vision … isn’t just about seeing clearly. It’s about building clearly. Leading clearly. And thinking bigger.
So, if your business feels heavy, if your to-do list is growing faster than the weeds in your backyard …
Take off a few hats. Hand them over. Step into your role as the designer of your future.
The greatest show isn’t out there. It’s the one you’re building right now, behind the scenes, with your team, and with the courage to imagine just a little bit more.
