When You Become the Bottleneck

The team is growing.
Decisions are flying.
Initiatives are multiplying.

But you’re stuck.

Not because you lack vision.
But because you’ve become the unintentional bottleneck.

Everything routes through you.
Everyone needs your sign-off.
And progress feels like it’s stacked up at your door.

1. You created the bottleneck by being excellent

Let’s be honest.
You got here because you’re good.

Your standards are high.
Your instincts are sharp.
You’ve made the right calls.

But excellence scales badly when it’s centralized.

2. Your company needs your judgment, not your shadow

There’s a difference between influence and involvement.

The first guides.
The second controls.

If your team won’t make a move without your input,
it’s time to ask:

• Where am I still inserted out of habit, not value?
• What am I afraid to let go of?
• What would I do if I trusted my team 10% more?

3. Delegate outcomes, not just tasks

You don’t need to disappear.
You need to reset how you hold ownership.

• Assign goals, not to-do lists
• Define success, not check-in points
• Empower judgment, not just execution

When your team owns the outcome, you get your time back and they get stronger.

Ask yourself:​
Where is your company waiting on you, and what would happen if you stepped back?

Helping founders step out of the weeds is my specialty. Let’s design a version of your role that scales you and the company.

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