How to Let Go for Business Growth

Client: "You're firing me?" Me: Yes. It might sound bizarre, but sometimes, letting go of a client is the best decision you can make for your business. A couple of years ago I had to make the tough call to fire a coaching client. Usually I’m able to vet clients before I agree to work with them. But it didn’t work this time. This client, let's call them Client X, had a habit of crossing boundaries. Our agreement was clear: - regular calls, - defined deliverables, and - respectful communication. However, Client X started demanding more - calls outside business hours, - expecting instant responses, and - generally asking for far beyond what we agreed upon in the contract. This was not only draining but also unsustainable. The lesson? Your business, your rules. As entrepreneurs, especially in the online space, we often fear losing clients. But at what cost? Your time? Peace of mind? The quality of your work for other clients? Firing Client X was a decision to prioritize my business health and the value I provide to all my clients. It was about setting boundaries and respecting my own process. Growth isn't just about gaining more clients but also about nurturing the right relationships. For all my fellow business owners out there, it's crucial to recognize when a client relationship is more harmful than beneficial. It's not just about the revenue. It’s about building a respectful, and productive working environment. Key Takeaways: ↪️ Set clear boundaries from the start. ↪️ Don't be afraid to reassess client relationships. ↪️ Your business's health and your peace of mind are invaluable. ↪️ Growth is also about quality, not just quantity. Have you ever faced a similar situation? How did you handle it?

Have you reached a point where the growth path of your organization involves stepping back to let others lead? The essence of true leadership lies not in holding tightly to the reins but in knowing when to hand them over. It's a concept that's easier said than done. Letting go and trusting your team to carry forward the legacy and dreams you've nurtured is, without a doubt, one of the most daunting steps a founder can take. Our recent planning session, rooted in the principles of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), was a reminder of the incredible talent, commitment, and execution our team possesses. It brought to light a crucial realization: empowering them to steer the company's direction is not a loss but a significant gain. To my fellow leaders facing this crossroad, I share this message: Embrace the bittersweetness of this transition. Trusting your team to lead is not just an act of faith in them but a testament to your leadership. It's about recognizing that the future of the company will be shaped by many hands and minds, all moving toward a shared vision. As I "fire myself" from certain roles, I do so with pride and anticipation for what's to come. It's a step back, but also a giant leap forward for LeadingIT. Here's to the next chapter, one where we all lead, innovate, and grow together. #leadership #EOS #growthmindset #LeadingIT

🪂 DDD Tip #7: Managing the Anxiety of Letting Go(Delegation as Discomfort Tolerance) “One of the biggest failures is leaders who don’t let go of old tasks.” — The Leadership Pipeline ------------ I grew up fast in Corporate America. Every 18 months, I was given a new stretch assignment—with bigger scope, higher stakes, and more responsibility. 💼📈 But despite all that forward motion, I struggled to let go of what I already knew how to do. Letting go isn’t a skill you learn once. It’s a discomfort you practice. ------------ 🌏 The Turning Point: Singapore, Citibank I had just been promoted into a role I helped design. It was exciting—but vague. Then, a few weeks in, I was tapped to take on an interim leadership role on top of my new one. Here’s the problem: I didn’t stop doing any of my old work. 🌀 And now, I had a team with people eager to grow—but I wasn’t letting go of the wheel. ------------ 🧠 The Lesson from My Boss When I brought it up to my boss—how my capacity was shrinking and I wasn’t sure my team was ready—he said something I’ll never forget: “You weren’t exactly ready either. But I trusted you’d grow into it.” ⚡ That hit me. I wasn’t holding onto tasks because my team wasn’t ready. I was holding on because I didn’t want to feel out of place. The emotional labor of coaching and course-correcting felt bigger than doing the tasks myself. But that wasn’t leadership. That was comfort. ------------ 💡 The Shift So I made the shift. It wasn’t pretty. Mistakes happened. Control slipped. But… 📈 My team leveled up. 🧠 I got sharper at delegation. 💬 And I learned to manage outcomes, not tasks. Nothing broke. Everyone got better. Eventually. ------------ 🛠️ Technique: Delegate & Empower—Even When It’s Uncomfortable ✅ Let go of tasks 🧗 Give others a stretch 📣 Coach instead of control ------------ 🔗 Tolerance for Discomfort Benefit Delegation forces you to step into uncertainty —letting go of tasks you’ve mastered in order to grow, scale, and lead. It builds emotional flexibility and makes space for others to rise. ------------ ✅ Try This What’s one task you’re holding onto that someone else could own? Let it go this week. Coach them through it. Resist the urge to grab it back. 🪶 ------------ ✨ Question for You When have you had to let go of something in order to lead? Share your story below 👇 or tag someone who’s mastered this transition.

The more I let go, the more I find that I’m in control. It’s counterintuitive, but I’ve come to see this in so many areas of life… As a parent: My 5-year-old son would say “hurry up” when he got impatient. This would annoy me greatly and I’d lose my temper. With some coaching from my wife, I learned to let go and not react at all. He’d see that saying “hurry up” didn’t get much of a reaction, so he stopped saying it. I was able to remain calm and in control of my emotions. As a manager: I was often very particular and easily annoyed by how others did tasks I delegated to them, thinking there was a “right way” to do things. I eventually realized this mindset defeated the purpose of delegating & trying to free up my time. I learned to care more about the outcome while letting go of the details, which gave me much greater control of my time. As a dealmaker: An overemphasis on the need to win can lead to overly aggressive or even desperate actions that can tank a potential deal. Being confident in a process, giving it my utmost attention, and putting my best foot forward are all things within my control and often lead to better results. As an investor: The ups and downs of the market used to swing my mood and lure me into buying or selling with a short-term mindset. I eventually bought into having a much more patient and longer time horizon for investing, which helped me let go and ignore what happened day-to-day in the market. This allowed me to see investments grow and my portfolio compound. Where do you see this paradox playing out in your life?

Being a CEO and Founder is not for the faint of heart. 😅 When you start out, you’re involved in every single detail–sales, marketing of the business (yes, even when your service is marketing!), the long-term vision, onboarding, culture building, you name it. With time (and hopefully great success), you realize that in order to grow, you must invest. As you begin to invest in people, process and technology, you begin to realize just how important trust is….trust in yourself, first and foremost, but also in your people. Here comes the trust fall…🤝 You cross your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath and trust that your people will be on the other end, ready to catch you (and your business) no matter what the circumstances. Next-level growth means trusting your team members to meet daily challenges, own decisions and push the business forward. Only in this way can your organization achieve true expansion. And, as an entrepreneur, I know firsthand how scary it can be to let go, but it is the only way your organization can achieve true expansion. I recently wrote about this very topic in my regular Staffing Industry Analysts’ Staffing Stream column called The One Thing. The intention is to share one business behavior / outlook you should adopt now that will set your company up for future success. If you're a business owner or leader of any kind, I’d love to hear your thoughts on your trust fall experience and any additional ways you nurture your team below. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/g_65RTVb #Entrepreneur #Staffing #GrowthMindset 

The path of surrender. Not exactly what you'd expect to hear as advice for exponential business growth! 😅 But it's one of the most powerful, counterintuitive keys I've discovered. I used to cling tightly to controlling every single aspect of Rocket Clicks. The need for oversight came from a place of fear. What if things fall apart without me orchestrating everything? 😰 But this death grip only led to frustration and stagnation. It wasn't until we implemented #EOS that the lightbulb finally went on. 1️⃣ I discovered where my true superpowers lie - and where they absolutely do NOT. 2️⃣ Letting go allowed me to focus my energy on building critical relationships and steering our vision. 3️⃣ My team flourished with the freedom and trust to drive our operations themselves. It was like a giant exhale. 😅 Letting go takes courage, but the payoff is immeasurable. Empower your people. 🚀