Being stuck at home sick isn’t exactly how I wanted to spend my time this week. But as much as I’d rather be feeling 100%, this break gave me a chance to see something I’m proud of—my teams are handling things on their own.
Even though I’ve been keeping an eye on Slack, I haven’t needed to step in. Work is moving forward, issues are getting resolved, and no one is waiting around for me to give direction. That’s how I know I’ve done my job right.
If a team falls apart when their leader is absent, that’s not a sign of importance—it’s a sign that something is broken. True leadership isn’t about being the one holding everything together; it’s about making sure things don’t need to be held together.
So how do you get there? Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Make Priorities Crystal Clear – When teams know what really matters, they don’t need to constantly check in for direction.
- Push Decisions Down – If people always need permission to act, they won’t build the confidence to make calls on their own.
- Foster a Safe Environment – Teams won’t take initiative if they feel like mistakes will get them in trouble.
- Coach, Don’t Command – Guiding people to think through challenges themselves makes them more independent in the long run.
- Encourage Self-Reflection – The more a team evaluates its own progress, the less they rely on outside validation.
It’s never fun to be out sick, but knowing my teams don’t need me to be at full speed? That’s a win.
Ever had a moment where you realized your team was truly self-sufficient? What did it take to get there?
