How to step into your leadership

When one of my clients was promoted to COO, he found himself overwhelmed at work—with almost no time left for his twin daughters. The problem wasn’t his new role; it was that he wasn’t letting go.

He was still grinding out Excel reports—work his team could (and should) be doing. Sound familiar?

So many leaders, when they step into a bigger role, cling to the tasks from their old job. Why? Because they’re familiar, measurable, and controllable. In the face of new and ambiguous responsibilities, that old work feels like a safe harbor.

But here’s the truth: the higher you go, the less it’s about working in the business and the more it’s about working on the business. That means…

– Thinking strategically instead of just executing.

– Building relationships across groups.

– Developing and empowering your team.

– Spotting growth opportunities others don’t yet see.

At first, these responsibilities can feel less tangible, harder to measure, even uncomfortable. But they’re exactly where leadership impacts lives.

With my client, we audited his schedule and trained his team to take over his old tasks. He redefined success around the priorities of his new role. The result? He not only exceeded expectations in his first quarter but also reclaimed precious time with his girls.

A quick exercise for you:

1. Write down your new responsibilities in this role. Estimate how much time each truly deserves per week or month.

2. Now, list the top 5 tasks you’re still holding onto from your old role. Estimate how much time you'd win back once you've let go.

3, Ask yourself: Who could take these old tasks on—or who could I train to step up?

See it as a game: Each time you let go, you gain points. Even if you just loosen up 30 minutes a week, that's a great start. You're learning. This is part of your growth.

Are you holding on too tightly? Are you leaders truly leading? Letting go is vulnerable and even scary. Doing it with a coach or mentor helps. If you’d like guidance, let's talk – visit meetwithstella.com to book a call.

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