We tend to think tasks are faster when we do them ourselves.. and you're right. It is faster to do them right now, but it takes away from the future.
How can you be sustainable when you are doing everything alone?
Then, we have my two other favorite thoughts: "No one can do this as well as I can" or "I don't have time to explain it".
Both of these things can be true as well; these thoughts can keep us stuck, because how will you ever get the chance to grow when you hold everything in one place (your mind)?
So, how do you transition these thoughts and start thinking more like a leader?
Let's start with these 3 things:
1) Ask "How would I teach this?" instead of "How do I do this?" This one simple shift changed everything for me. When you approach tasks thinking about how you'd explain them to someone else, you naturally start building systems instead of just getting stuff done.
2) Document your "why" not just your "what." Your future team doesn't just need to know what you decided - they need to understand how you think. When I work with clients, I don't just tell them what to do. I explain why it matters and how it fits into the bigger picture.
3) Practice giving yourself feedback. I know this sounds weird, but after you finish a project, write down what went well and what you'd do differently. This is the exact same skill you'll need to help your team grow.
You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to stay consistent and honest. And you do these things by actually doing what you said you would do, admitting to things as you are figuring them out, and sharing your vision (a big one in my opinion).
Growth doesn't happen when you're comfortable. You have to develop these skills actively. And you do that by doing.
What's one leadership skill you want to work on?
P.S. If you're thinking about building systems that will actually scale with you as you grow, Lazy Systems Club is going to be perfect for you. Learn more about it here.
