Scott SteinThe Power of Letting Go: A Leadership Hack That Changed Everything
Nobody becomes a business owner thinking, “I can’t wait to do everything myself.” Yet, that’s exactly where I found David not long ago, spinning a dozen plates, exhausted, and wondering if growth was even possible without executive leadership coaching to guide him.
David runs a digital agency that builds high-performing websites and marketing automation strategies for service-based businesses. He’s sharp, driven, and genuinely cares about his clients. But like many leaders, his biggest challenge wasn’t strategy or capability… it was letting go.
Leadership Coaching in Action: The Wake-Up Call Moment
When David and I first sat down, he shared something that hit me. “I feel like I’m the bottleneck,” he said. “Clients love the work, but I’m stuck in the weeds, designing, coding, managing, firefighting. I know I need help, but I don’t know where to start.”
Sound familiar?
This is what I call the Leadership Capacity Crisis. You can’t scale what you don’t delegate, and yet, many leaders fear handing things off because of past disappointments or a belief that “no one can do it as well as I can.”
The Hack: Delegation Mapping
So, we introduced one of my favourite Leadership Hacks: Delegation Mapping.
Together, we walked through David’s daily and weekly tasks. What could only he do? What could be taught, outsourced, or streamlined?
Then came the breakthrough. I encouraged David to build a simple one-page delegation plan for a key hire. Someone who could manage client communications and project workflows.
Instead of dumping tasks, he co-created the plan with his new hire, outlining clear steps, timelines, and checkpoints. The result? He gained back 10 hours a week within the first month and his clients started raving about the faster response times.
The Real Win of Leadership Coaching? Headspace.
With less on his plate, David could focus on growing his client base and refining their offers. He even had time to build a new tool for SEO content creation, something that had been on his “someday” list for over a year, which now saves him hours every week.
Here’s what David said a few weeks later: “For the first time in ages, I feel like I’m working on the business, not just in it.”
For leaders like David, coaching isn’t about being told what to do. It’s about gaining clarity, building capacity, and making better decisions faster. Leadership Coaching is a shortcut to meaningful results.
Interested in getting similar results? Learn more about my mentoring program for executives.
Leadership Isn’t About Doing It All
Whether you’re leading a digital agency or a corporate team, the real leadership hack is this: Stop trying to be the hero who does everything. Be the guide who empowers others.
And if you’re feeling stuck in your own Leadership Capacity Crisis, I’d love to have a conversation… no pressure, just a chat about how you can find your own shortcut to results.
Scott Stein
