I want to share something that has been both humbling and freeing for me: realizing that my perfectionism was not only exhausting me but also holding back the people around me. After 10 years of experience in leadership, I humbly see myself as a great leader. People often say that I am good at listening and compassion and that every event I lead always ends up with success. I am also that kind of leader who does things quickly, efficiently, and, let’s be honest, my way. I thought I was helping my team by sparing them from mistakes or delays. But in truth, I was creating a quiet dependence. Despite the fact that we have meetings where everyone is free to share their opinion, in some ways, they looked to me for every decision, every next step, every sign of approval.
It hit me one day when I noticed that when I am on leave, things are freezing until I come back. At first, I told myself, “Maybe I need to set clear expectations before I leave or maybe they need some more experience before being involved.” But deep down, I knew the real reason: I was not giving them space. My drive to “get things right” had unintentionally made me the center of everything, and in doing so, I was depriving them of chances to grow as leaders in their own right.
I remember a moment when one of my team members proposed an idea I would not have thought of. I paused and realized how useful, pleasant and rich that is. I mean the fact that team members are creative. My self-awareness and my desire to reframe made me realize I need to embrace that idea and encourage more of my staff to do so. That experience reminded me that leadership is not about perfect results delivered by me, it is about nurturing potential in others so they can shine too.
Letting go is not easy. Delegating means trusting others to step into roles that I once stuck to tightly. Sometimes, things take longer. Sometimes, mistakes happen. But I have come to see those moments as gifts, not failures. Because leadership is not about speed or control, it is about creating room for others to discover their own voices, their own pace, and their own style of leading.
The takeaway is simple: leadership is less about you and more about the people you are lifting up. When you step back, you do not lose influence, you multiply it. My message is, this week, resist the urge to jump in. Choose one task you would normally do yourself, delegate it, and then step aside. Watch what happens when someone else gets the chance to lead.
About the Author
Motivated from a young age by my passion for nature, I studied biology in college with the dream of using my scientific knowledge to help people. Today, I am living that dream in the heart of the Ranomafana rainforest! I work with Centre ValBio and the local Tanala and Betsileo communities to inspire and empower them to become conservation partners, live in harmony with nature, and appreciate the uniqueness and importance of biodiversity
