One of the most dangerous leadership traps for founders?
Trying to be the hero.
It sounds noble, saving the day, carrying the weight, solving every problem yourself.
But it’s a slow path to burnout. And worse: it stalls your team’s growth.
Here’s what hero-style leadership really does:
It silently burns you out.
You're always on. Always needed. Eventually, you crash.
It trains your team to depend on you.
When you're the only one making decisions, your team stops thinking for themselves.
It blocks real collaboration.
A strong business isn’t built by one genius. It’s built by trust, clarity, and shared ownership.
The founders I see building great companies?
They don’t act alone.
They find their version of Robin.
They build a true partnership at the top, a co-founder, COO, or right-hand who helps them carry the load, see their blind spots, and lead more sustainably.
Because leadership isn’t about being the strongest.
It’s about being strong together.
Keep building,
Peter
