In the journey of leveling up beyond a manager, I’ve come to rely on one core truth: constant, deliberate mindset shifts are the engine of professional growth. What got me this far, my initial skills, habits, and approaches will absolutely not be enough to get me to the next level.

This realization is both challenging and exhilarating.

The Myth of Complexity

Have you ever dreaded that one task on your to-do list? The one that sits there for days, feeling like a massive undertaking? But then, the moment you finally tackle it, you realize… it’s simple.

That relief, that sense of a huge burden lifted is a recurring theme in management. The things that once seemed incredibly challenging, the moment you commit to them, suddenly seem straightforward.

This pattern has defined my growth in leadership, turning once-terrifying tasks into natural habits.

From Delegation Anxiety to Ownership

When I first became a manager, delegation was a hurdle. It felt like I was dumping work or losing control. I had to consciously force myself to hand off tasks, coach on them, and get comfortable with the outcome.

Over time, this mindset shifted. Delegation is no longer a conscious effort; it happens naturally. It’s simply how the work gets done. It frees up my time to focus on truly strategic work.

The Power of “Their Idea”

Recently I wrote about how I have nuanced the skill of making it their idea. I have evolved from telling people what to do to guide them to discover the solution themselves.

I’m constantly learning how to coach my team to the right conclusion so that the final proposal is theirs. It is more motivating, generates better ownership, and leads to more creative solutions than anything I could have mandated. The delicate balance is ensuring the strategic direction is still met while seeking credit for the “inception” of the idea.

Beyond Reaction: Architecting the Future

Another critical evolution has been moving from reactive firefighting to proactive futuresight.

In my early days, my team and I solved problems as they crashed into us. We were perpetually in cleanup mode. Now, when a problem surfaces, my primary focus isn’t just to fix the immediate issue. Instead, I ask:

What needs to be put in place right now so that we never encounter this specific problem again?

This shift from solving the problem with a lens on the future allows us to build resilient processes, making us less reactive and more focused on forward momentum.

The Editor vs. Author Evolution

Recently, something truly organic had started happening, which reminded me of an old piece of advice: The Editor vs. Author.

I am finding myself becoming the Editor for most of the significant work that happens within my sphere. I am no longer the one authoring the detailed strategic documents, deep-dive analyses, or complex proposals.

This is a direct result of the shifts above:

1. It requires making it their idea so they have full ownership of the draft.
2. It demands coaching on the strategic topics so multiple people can author the work effectively.

My highest-leverage role is no longer producing content but refining the work of others, polishing the arguments, challenging the assumptions, and ensuring the final product aligns perfectly with the strategy. It’s a powerful, scalable position that defines what it means to lead from the next level.

The journey continues, but the lesson remains: growth is a continuous cycle of mastering one challenge, only to uncover the next.

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What’s the next big mindset shift you are working on to level up your leadership?