When you first started your business, you had no choice but to be in control of everything. Every decision, every detail, every approval had to run through you. It was just you at the beginning, and being the gatekeeper was the only way to survive and grow.
But fast forward a few years. You’ve grown. You have steady revenue. You’ve built a team. Yet, things feel like they’ve stalled. Growth has plateaued, and you can’t figure out why.
The problem might not be your team, your product, or even your marketing. The problem might be you.
The Gatekeeper Trap
Many business owners think
being deeply involved in every decision makes them a strong leader. After all, it’s your business. Why wouldn’t you want to approve everything that happens in it?
The truth is, what helped you grow in the early years can be the very thing that keeps you from growing now. If every task, project, or idea still has to run through you, then
you’ve become the bottleneck. You’ve hired smart people but haven’t truly let them do their jobs. Instead of empowering them, you’re slowing them down.
That doesn’t make you more involved. It makes you the roadblock.
Shifting from Doer to Leader
Your role needs to change as your business grows. Early on, you were the doer. Now, you need to become the leader.
That means:
- Set the vision. Define the big picture and the direction your company is headed.
- Establish goals. Give your team clear targets so they know what success looks like.
- Provide parameters. Set boundaries and expectations so your people understand how to make decisions that align with your vision.
- Step aside. Let your team execute. Trust them to do the jobs you hired them to do.
When you free yourself from being the gatekeeper, you gain back the time and mental space to focus on strategy, growth, and leadership. At the same time, you give your team the autonomy they need to perform at their best.
The Hard Truth
If you’re constantly frustrated that your business isn’t growing, ask yourself: are you empowering your people, or are you standing in their way?
The answer might be uncomfortable but recognizing it is the first step. Get out of your own way, and you’ll unlock the growth you’ve been looking for.
