Holding Your Team’s Hand Costs More Than You Think

Leadership isn’t about doing it all for everyone else. But it’s easy to slip into that role — stepping in to fix things, double-checking work, making sure it’s “done right.”

I see it all the time. A leader wants to protect the team from mistakes — but ends up blocking the very growth they want to see. The cost isn’t always obvious. It’s hidden in slow decisions, stalled confidence, and work that always circles back to you. That’s operational drag at its worst.

The Power of Letting Go

When I played competitive soccer, I learned this early: you can’t win a game by chasing every ball yourself. The goal is to build trust, set clear plays, and let the team run with it. Business is the same.

One leader I coached realized she was stuck chasing every “ball” — fixing small issues, reworking tasks, hovering over decisions. Together, we clarified roles, set clear expectations, and practiced handing off one thing at a time.

The result? Her team stepped up. They owned their work. She got her evenings back — and her focus shifted from putting out fires to moving the whole business forward.

How to Let Go (Without Dropping the Ball)

True leadership isn’t about doing it all — it’s about building a team that can. So if you’re feeling some drag, here’s where to start:

Pick one task you’re still holding.

What’s one thing that eats your time but could teach someone else to step up?

Define what success looks like.

Clear expectations make it safe to trust. “Done right” shouldn’t live in your head.

Hand it off—and hold your boundary.

Delegating means resisting the urge to jump back in when it feels messy.

Watch what happens when trust grows.

Teams can’t build confidence if they never get the chance to own it.

Signs You’re Ready to Stop Holding Their Hand

You’re stuck double-checking work that shouldn’t need it.
Your team hesitates to decide without you.
Your calendar is clogged with “check-ins” that drain your time.
You’re craving bigger-picture thinking, but stuck in the weeds.

When you loosen your grip, you free everyone to move faster, smarter, stronger — including you.

If this feels familiar, maybe it’s time to talk.