Leading Between the Lines

Leaders are taught to hold things together. We take responsibility, make decisions, and carry expectations – often without realizing how heavy it all becomes. Over time, the weight of trying to manage everything can blur our clarity and quiet our instincts.

But sometimes, the real strength lies in knowing when to release our grip.

We often cling to control not out of ego, but out of care. We want things to go well. We want to protect our teams, maintain stability, and deliver on what we promised. Yet, in that instinct to hold on, we unintentionally limit the very growth we’re trying to nurture. When everything depends on us, no one else gets the space to rise.

I remember a time when I realized how much I was holding on to the need to always have the answer. When team members came to me with questions, my instinct was to respond right away – to help, to move things forward, to prove I could be relied on. But over time, I noticed that my quick answers were keeping others from developing the confidence and connections they needed.

So I started to shift. Instead of giving the answer, I began pointing people toward the resources that would help them discover it themselves – a document, a colleague, a process owner. It took more patience at first, but it changed everything. Team members starting building their own knowledge, deepening their understanding of the organization, and forming stronger relationships with others across departments.

Letting go of my need to be the answer created space for others to grow into their own expertise. I learned that leadership isn’t about being indispensable; it’s about helping others find their footing so they don’t need you in every moment.

Letting go doesn’t mean disengaging. It means believing that what you’ve built can stand, even when you’re not holding it. It’s the act of trusting your preparation, your people, and yourself enough to loosen your grasp.

Leadership isn’t a constant act of control; it’s a rhythm of building, guiding, and releasing. We hold things long enough to shape them – and then, we let them breathe.

Sometimes, leadership isn’t about shaping every moment, but about creating space for moments to shape themselves.

Reflection

What’s one thing you’ve been holding too tightly – and what might happen if you trusted it enough to let go?