The Leadership Paradox: Where "Doing" Takes a Backseat?

I miss writing. I miss writing, and I miss creating content. I miss the feeling of building things from scratch, and hitting 'publish' with that adrenaline-pumping ritual of checking likes every five minutes. That was SO meaningful to me.

I miss the days when I was a one-person army, juggling creativity, design, copywriting, SEO, SEM, and everything in between. It was messy, it was chaotic, but it was mine.

Fast forward to the present, and I find myself leading a team of people who are –honestly– so much better than me in what they specialize in. It's literally the dream team, we've got all the capabilities we need, and I would be a horrible professional if I even thought of trading that... But with professional growths comes a not-so-great realization: I've distanced myself from the very activities that fueled my professional fire.

Is this the inevitable fate of every leader?

The mundane tasks I gladly handed over, like writing an Instagram caption, or designing a LinkedIn banner, are the tasks I genuinely miss, and I can't help but feel a bit of nostalgia for those DIY days.

Scaling up means handing over the reins, and in doing so, part of your identity as a hands-on creator, or a technical professional, gets stashed away in the leadership drawer. I've seen, for example, some our best Developers grow into Heads of Engineering, ending up not writing a single line of code. While it's undoubtedly an achievement, it's still a trade-off: a dance between delegation and hands-on involvement.

Identity Crisis?

So here we are. The very traits that got us to higher positions—vision, strategic thinking, and the knack for leading a team—somehow overshadow the hands-on artist we used to be. So, how do we redefine success in leadership without losing the very essence of what makes us tick as passionate professionals?

To be frank, I don't have all the answers, and the fact that I'm penning this blog post exposes me quite a bit. Anyways... Here are some strategies I believe can help, and ones I aspire to implement more:

Embracing Both Sides of the Coin

I genuinely think that the best leaders, are those that maintain a big-picture vision, while still getting their hands dirty. You don't have to ditch the craft that got you where you are. So try forcing yourself to rock multiple hats. Identify key projects where your experience can make a difference without micromanaging. Stay in the loop, feel the pulse of the creative process, and watch the team thrive.

Mentorship Magic

Mentorship emerges as a magic wand, channeling the leader's passion into guiding and inspiring others. I've had the chance to mentor people inside and outside of the company, and loved experiencing the thrill of problem-solving through another's eyes.

Hands-On Hustle, Periodically

Set aside specific times for hands-on work. Whether it's a creative week every few months or jumping into a collaborative project, these focused sprints let you dive into the hands-on hustle without neglecting your leadership duties.

Let inspiration hit you

That's literally what I'm doing right now. Writing, the thing I miss the most, is something I do the least. So, here I am, seizing the Thanksgiving week, where most clients and leads are out of office, to vomit all these words into an article that frankly has nothing to do with our company's blog or content strategy... But hey, this is somehow therapeutic for me, and I hope that at least someone empathizes with me and reflects alongside me, which I also find valuable.

Lifelong Learning Adventure:

Things evolve. Face it. That program you used for Design two years ago? It might not exist or could be entirely different now. The same goes for everything, especially in the tech space.

It's important to find balance here. You don't need to be the best at everything, but you must be proficient enough to guide your team. How? Stay in the loop with emerging trends, attend workshops, and explore new tools, as part of your daily job.

Enjoy the Sweet Rewards

Scaling up brings its own set of victories and pleasures. The joy of witnessing your team's triumphs, the satisfaction of a well-executed campaign, and the luxury of focusing on the grand vision – these are the rewards of leadership.

Rethinking What Success Looks Like:

I consider its okay to question the typical markers of success. It's not just about hitting traditional leadership benchmarks – Leadership is not for everyone, and it's real important to also consider personal satisfaction and team happiness as well. Success isn't a one-stop destination; it's a dynamic journey blending personal and professional growth.

So, here's the reality—as you scale in your professional journey, it's normal to face an identity crisis. Still, I feel like it's not about choosing between being a leader or a creator; it's about navigating a path and a balance where they happily coexist.

As for me... I'll start with writing a bit more, so hopefully you'll see articles like this more often :)