The Biggest Leadership Mistake I Made (And How I Fixed It)

There’s a moment in every leader’s journey when they realize they’ve been doing something completely wrong.

For me, that moment didn’t come in my 30s or 40s. It came much later—when I was deep into my career, seasoned with decades of experience, and convinced that I had most things figured out.

And then reality hit me square in the face.

Let me take you back.

The Mistake That Nearly Broke Everything

Years ago, I prided myself on being a hands-on leader. I had worked hard to build my career, and my instincts told me that the best way to ensure success was to be involved in everything.

Decisions? I made them. Problems? I solved them. Ideas? I had to approve them.

I thought this made me a strong, reliable leader. In reality, it made me a bottleneck.

I was unknowingly stifling my team’s growth. They hesitated to take initiative because they knew I’d step in. Meetings ran long because everything had to go through me. I was exhausted, overworked, and constantly frustrated—because despite my experience, my team wasn’t thriving.

Then one day, a senior employee pulled me aside and said something I’ll never forget:

"You hired us to help you, but you’re not letting us do our jobs."

It stung. But they were right.

The Wake-Up Call

That conversation forced me to take a hard look at my leadership style. I had fallen into a trap that many experienced leaders face:

?? Holding onto control because you think no one else can do it as well as you.

?? Mistaking involvement for effectiveness.

?? Believing that being in charge means you have to have all the answers.

I wasn’t empowering my team—I was micromanaging them. And ironically, that lack of trust was hurting both them and me.

So I had a choice: I could keep doing what I was doing (and keep getting the same results). Or… I could change.

How I Fixed It

Here’s what I did, step by step:

1. I Shifted My Mindset from "Leader" to "Coach"

Instead of making every decision, I started coaching my team to make their own. I stopped handing out solutions and started asking questions instead:

?? “What do you think we should do?”

?? “How would you handle this if I weren’t here?”

This forced my team to think critically and build confidence in their own judgment.

2. I Built a "Decision Ladder"

I realized that not all decisions required my input. So, I broke them into three categories:

? Level 1: Decisions my team could make on their own (no need to check with me).

? Level 2: Decisions they could make but should inform me about.

? Level 3: Decisions that required discussion and alignment with leadership.

This simple system empowered my team while ensuring alignment. It also freed up my time to focus on bigger-picture strategy instead of minor details.

3. I Gave People Room to Fail (and Learn)

Here’s something I had to accept: Mistakes are part of growth.

I started allowing my team to take risks—even if they made errors. Instead of immediately stepping in, I let them figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.

And guess what? They became stronger, more independent, and more innovative.

4. I Asked for Feedback—From Everyone

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that leadership is a two-way street.

I started asking my team for feedback on my leadership style. At first, it was uncomfortable. But what I learned was invaluable:

?? “I feel more confident now that you’re trusting me with decisions.”

?? “I used to be afraid to take initiative, but now I feel supported.”

?? “Meetings are more productive because we don’t have to wait for approvals all the time.”

Hearing this confirmed that the change wasn’t just making my life easier—it was making the entire team better.

Lessons for Leaders 60+

If you’re in your 60s and have been leading for years, you might relate to my story. Experience is a powerful tool, but it can also create blind spots.

Here are three things I’d tell any seasoned leader:

1?? You don’t need to have all the answers. Your role isn’t to be the smartest in the room—it’s to empower others to find smart solutions.

2?? Your legacy isn’t what you do—it’s what you leave behind. The best leaders create teams that thrive without them.

3?? Trust isn’t a reward—it’s a strategy. The more you trust your team, the more they rise to the challenge.

Final Thought: What About You?

Leadership is a journey, and we all make mistakes along the way. The key is learning from them.

Now, I want to hear from you:

?? What’s the biggest leadership mistake you’ve ever made—and what did you do to fix it?

Drop a comment below and let’s share some wisdom. Because at 60+, we’re just getting started.