Going Above and Beyond is Killing Your Company
Sean Patton, MBA, ACC
Keynote Speaker ?? Executive Coach ?? Host of No Limits Leadership podcast???US Army Special Forces Veteran & BJJ Black Belt ???? I help growth-minded companies retain top talent
"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." - Ronald Reagan
“The expectation is for you to go above and beyond in this role.” This well-intentioned mentality undermines your entire company and makes you look less competent to others. The fact is the best leaders do their job; nothing more, nothing less.
I can feel your mental pushback from behind my computer screen right now. I got the same initial reaction during a recent client session's group coaching call. But stick with me; you’ll come around. They did too.
We often hear that leaders need to go above and beyond to be truly effective. After all, many leaders earned their positions by doing just that. However, as you advance in leadership, doing more than your role can actually harm your team and organization.
In practice, it might look like…
What’s the problem? I’m just being helpful and “getting things done.”
Leading Yourself
As a leader, reflecting on how you’re managing your responsibilities is essential. Are you doing more than your role requires, stepping into tasks that should belong to others? Are you doing what is comfortable and familiar instead of mastering the foundation of your current role? While well-intentioned, this undermines both your leadership growth and the development of your team. No Limit Leaders stay in their lane, trusting others to do their jobs and focusing on developing them to reach their potential.
Leading Others
We ultimately judge great leaders on the leaders they create. You may know how to do it faster, cheaper, and better. That doesn’t mean you should be doing it. The long-term success of the organization requires leaders to develop capacity in others. By helping your team understand their decision-making boundaries and fostering accountability, you build a culture where everyone can thrive in their position and develop the skills needed for the next level.
Becoming a No Limit Leader
When I see a leader stepping outside their role, it’s often a clear sign that they lack confidence in their ability to fully own their current responsibilities. Rather than focusing on developing their leadership skills, they retreat to tasks they’re more comfortable with, ultimately hindering their own growth and that of their team. Growth is uncomfortable. It requires courage.
The other situation is that they truly don’t trust their subordinates. In this case, development is even more critical.
No Limit Leaders break through self-imposed barriers to achieve greatness and inspire others to do the same. This requires the discipline to do our job; nothing more, nothing less. By fostering role clarity and focusing on development, you empower leaders at every level to grow and reach their full potential, creating a more effective organization.
UNLEASH LEADERSHIP, UNLOCK POTENTIAL
-Sean Patton
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Senior L&D Product Specialist - People and culture development through personalized training and coaching, highlighting each individual's uniqueness.
1 个月Such a powerful reminder that true leadership is about empowering others. It’s not about being in the spotlight, but about helping your team reach their fullest potential and celebrating their successes. When people feel supported and inspired, the possibilities are endless.
Human Architect - Let's Build Capacity, Foster Collaboration, and Unleash Confidence in Your Precious Humans & Teams
1 个月Love this! I am feeling the consequences of going above and beyond this week..not sustainable. I am reading this as I sit in my garage gym trying to drum up energy to train.
Helping Leaders Build Meaningful Missions | Former Military Commander & 20-Year Veteran | Strengthening Connection & Engagement Across Teams
1 个月Great post Sean. I remember as a commander it was a “tailored” mindset. Not everyone requires the same approach. Like landing on an airfield, we need information to help us make the right approach. We need to know the aircraft, experience level of the crew, the environmental conditions, all of this to ensure we hit the mark. In leadership, doing nothing more or nothing less may look different depending on what the mission is and who is executing it. I think that’s where leaders can make a great impact, know where we are going and who is taking us there.
Change is Good | Speaker | Emcee | Host of Unique Experiences | Athlete | Poet
1 个月"No Limit Leaders stay in their lane, trusting others to do their jobs and focusing on developing them to reach their potential." I have found that by staying in my lane I can go further and faster with more ease. It's when I tried to be in all lanes that I hit more obstacles and burnt out. Hire the people who can do what you can't and who thrive where you don't. Awesome perspective, Sean!
In a competitive market, building a memorable brand means publishing compelling content. I turn your ideas into business books, cookbooks, blogs and more. Check out my Featured Section!
1 个月I've watched narcissistic leaders sink thriving nonprofits with the weight of their egos. Their missions were compelling, and their staff passionate. But they undermined their team every step of the way.