For many years, I operated under the belief that great leadership meant having a hand in everything. I felt that I needed to perfect every process, double-check every task, and lead every decision. It wasn’t a lack of trust in my team—it was a sense of personal responsibility. I thought I had to make sure everything was just right.
But one day, I found myself asking: What’s the point of building these processes if my people aren’t growing with them? That question marked a pivotal shift in my perspective.
I realized I was so focused on controlling the systems that I hadn’t taken the time to empower the people working within them. So, I made a choice: I would step back, trust my team, and instead of refining every detail of the system, I would focus on building their capabilities.
At first, it wasn’t easy. I was so accustomed to being involved in every aspect of the work. Letting go was uncomfortable, even unsettling. But soon, I started to witness something incredible: my team thrived. They brought ideas I hadn’t even considered, took ownership, and pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible. Our results began to surpass anything I could’ve achieved alone.
Letting go of control wasn’t easy—it’s a challenge that every leader faces. But once I did, it changed everything. It changed the way we worked together, the way we approached problems, and the way we celebrated success. It transformed my team, the business, and me.
If you’re a leader navigating this same journey—feeling torn between control and trust—I’d love to connect. Sharing what I’ve learned has been one of the most rewarding parts of my growth.
Warm Regards,
N.Raaj Selvarajan