The art of letting go - growing as a manager and leader

Leadership is hard, and management is difficult

Moving up to these roles is no walk in the park—or, as my son might say lately, it’s not “easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.” While advancing in an organization might seem straightforward, the reality is that stepping into leadership requires a whole new set of skills and a different mindset. Even when you’re familiar with the domain, key players, and internal processes, transitioning into leadership brings new challenges. Here are some areas where new leaders often struggle, along with tips on how to navigate them.

Letting Go of Being the Expert

One of the toughest shifts is realizing that decisions aren’t always based on your past expertise. As you move higher up, you may no longer be the undisputed subject matter expert. Instead, your role is to empower others and make decisions based on a broader perspective. This can be difficult, especially if you’ve built your career on deep domain knowledge .I’ve seen people struggle with this, particularly when they move to a new organization. They try to carry over their previous expert status and feel the need to know everything about everything. But remember:- Your old expertise was built over years and multiple roles.- Your new organization already has experts in place who know the terrain.- There’s a lot of new, interesting stuff to learn that might not be central to your new role, but it's important to know when to step back.

Letting Go of Being Prescriptive

As a subject matter expert, it’s easy to fall into the habit of telling people exactly what to do. But in a leadership role, this can lead to micro-managing, which stifles your team’s growth and limits your ability to focus on new responsibilities. Instead, think of yourself as a mentor or coach. Your team will sometimes need clear instructions, especially when tackling something new, but more often than not, they’ll benefit from guidance and the freedom to find their own solutions. This approach helps develop their skills and encourages independent thinking.

Letting Go of Your Way Being the Only Way

People have different ways of communicating and solving problems, and as a leader, it’s essential to recognize the value in these differences. Embracing diverse approaches not only fosters a more inclusive environment but also introduces you to new perspectives and ideas that you may not have considered. Encourage your team to bring their unique strengths to the table, and be open to suggestions that might differ from your usual methods. Offering improvement suggestions is part of guiding them in the right direction, but it’s also important to allow room for their growth.

Letting Go of Perfection and Embracing Failure

Empowering your team to make decisions comes with the risk of failure, but that’s okay. Leadership requires a pragmatic and incremental approach. Each mistake is a learning opportunity, and doing something — even imperfectly — is better than doing nothing out of fear of failure. As a leader, it’s your job to provide “air cover” for your team. Protect them from undue criticism and take responsibility when things go wrong. This not only fosters trust but also encourages your team to take calculated risks and learn from their experiences.

Letting go of the expectation that this is an overnight transformation

Leadership is a journey, not a one-time leap. By letting go of old habits and embracing new approaches, you can grow into a more effective and inspiring leader. Take a moment to reflect on these points and think about how you can apply them in your own leadership journey.