The Shift that Made Me a Stronger Leader
Andrea Wright I Published on Link/Site
Somewhere along the line, we picked up this idea that strong leaders should be able to do it all.
Know everything. Handle everything. Be great at everything.
When I first started my business, I really believed that. I thought I had to do everything myself, from the coaching and the marketing to the bookkeeping and even the tech troubleshooting. For a while, I wore that like a badge of honor. If I didn’t know how to do something, I would just push harder until I figured it out.
But that came with a cost. Not only was I spending too much time and energy on things that weren’t in my wheelhouse, I was also thinking poorly of myself. If I couldn’t do it all, I felt like I wasn’t good enough, as if struggling meant I wasn’t cut out for running a business.
Learning I Didn’t Have to Do It All
Over time, I learned that wasn’t true. I didn’t have to do it all. I started building a network of people I could lean on for support, expertise, and collaboration. Taxes go to the professionals. Technology is something I can figure out if I absolutely have to, but it drains me, so I reach out for help. And as a solopreneur, I’ve discovered that asking for help isn’t only about tasks, it is also about connection. Some of my best ideas come from brainstorming with others, getting fresh perspectives, and sharing what’s on my mind instead of staying stuck in my own head.
What Real Leadership Looks Like
That shift didn’t just lighten my load, it made me stronger. It gave me the space to focus on the work I love most: coaching people to uncover what’s holding them back and helping leaders show up as their authentic selves. And maybe most importantly, it reminded me that being a good leader isn’t about doing it all. It is about knowing where you shine and having the courage to admit where you don’t.
Here’s the truth: a weakness is only a weakness when you pretend it isn’t there.
Asking for help isn’t a failure. It is a sign you’re paying attention. It shows you value the outcome more than your ego. It demonstrates trust, collaboration, and a willingness to keep learning. And those are the leadership qualities people actually want to follow.
So if you’ve been putting pressure on yourself to have it all figured out, this is your permission slip to let that go. Great leaders don’t have all the answers. They simply know where to find them.
