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You Don't Have to Be the Answer (The Leadership Shift that Changes Everything)
July 18, 2025
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Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of being the fixer, thinking they have to solve every problem. But true leadership is about building a team that thinks, acts, and grows without you at the center.
Contributed by Gino Wickman, an EO 360° podcast guest and the author of Traction and The EOS Life, as well as the creator of EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System), which more than 130,000 entrepreneurs use to run their companies. He also created The 10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy.
One of the biggest lies entrepreneurs believe is that they have to be the answer to everything.
The hero.
The fixer.
The one with all the solutions.
I lived this lie for years. It’s seductive. It feels noble. And if you’re like most entrepreneurs I know, you’re good at solving problems. That ability has gotten you far. But here’s the truth I want you to hear loud and clear:
Your job is not to be the answer.
Your job is to build the team that finds the answers.
That one shift will change everything.
The Ego Trap of the All-Knowing Leader
Let’s face it. When you’re the founder or the one leading the charge, it feels good to swoop in and save the day. You feel in control. You feel needed. You feel indispensable. But here’s the cost. Your team gets weaker.
They stop thinking for themselves. They wait for you before they act. They lose confidence. And the worst part? You never get free.
If everything funnels through you, decisions slow down, momentum stalls, and you start feeling resentful. And here’s the kicker: You created that situation.
Delegation Is a Mindset Shift
It’s not just about handing off low-value tasks. It’s about trusting others to carry real weight. It’s about letting go of the idea that if something’s going to be done right, it has to be done by you.
When you step back, others step up. Yes, they’ll make mistakes. But that’s how people grow. That’s how they learn to lead. And that’s how your business builds real strength and grows into what you want. Your value as a leader doesn’t come from doing it all. It comes from casting the vision and creating space for others to thrive.
From Hero to Catalyst
If you see yourself as the one who must always have the answer, you’re limiting your business. You’re also exhausting yourself.
Great leaders enhance the impact of others. They ask more than they tell. They create environments where people feel ownership. They resist the urge to jump in and fix. Next time someone comes to you with a problem, resist the urge to solve it. Ask, “What do you think?” And then stay quiet. Let them think. Let them lead.
That’s how you build a real team. That’s how you grow.
The Real Answer
When you stop being the answer, your team will start finding better ones. When you let go, others grow. When you stop controlling everything, you create space for something bigger.
You didn’t start this journey to be the bottleneck.
You started to build something meaningful.
So let go. Build the team. Trust the process.
That’s the real answer.
Additional insights from Gino Wickman:
10 steps to living your optimal life
10 Disciplines To Help Driven Entrepreneurs Find Peace and Shine