The Transition From Doing to Leading: Why it's Hard & How to Nail It | Ep 143

WĀ-HINE

WĀ-HINE
The Transition From Doing to Leading: Why it's Hard & How to Nail It | Ep 143
Mar 26, 2025 Episode 143
Sandra Julian | Business Coach

Scaling your business isn’t about piling more onto your already full plate. It’s about stepping into your role as a leader; bringing in the right people and empowering them to take ownership.

But making that shift? Easier said than done.

Why Is It So Hard to Move from Doing to Leading?
Ever feel like you’re the glue holding everything together? You’re making every decision, overseeing every detail, and keeping the wheels turning. But instead of feeling in control, you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck. It’s like if you take your hands off the wheel for even a second, everything might fall apart.

Here’s the good news: this is a normal phase. Every service business owner reaches this point, the moment when working harder is no longer the answer. But (and this is a big but!) you can’t stay here. If you don’t make the transition from doer to leader, your business growth will stall.

The challenge? Being a great business owner doesn’t automatically make you a great leader. The skills that got you here aren’t the same ones that will take you forward.

That’s why I want to share 2 game-changing books that helped me navigate this transition:
📖 Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
📖 Radical Candor by Kim Scott

These books will help you:
✅ Find the right people so you’re not doing everything yourself.
✅ Lead with confidence, clarity, and care (without micromanaging or feeling guilty!).

The Shift: Going From Business Owner to Business Leader
Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business? Here’s where to start:

Step 1: Identify What to Delegate
Download my System Creation Toolkit (includes a Delegation Checklist & Time Audit Resource). https://sandrajulian.co/SystemToolkit to help you figure out which tasks you should be handing off.

Once you have done this, it’s time to get the books out to help you transition from doing to leading.

Step 2: Shift from How to Who 
Instead of asking, How do I do this?, start asking, Who is the best person to take this on?

Step 3: Lead with Clarity and Care
Set clear expectations, give honest feedback, and build a thriving team.

Continue to read here at:  https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast143

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your business to uncover the roadblocks.
Grab yours at sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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Music is Te Kawa o Rongo by Ngāneko Eriwata

Episode edited by LJS Creative Services #PodcastManager

Show notes & blog by Mattie Belsack from Bellbird Writing