“If I do my job well, will I still be needed?”
One of the hardest transitions for leaders isn’t learning to delegate. It’s living with the results of good delegation.
- You train your team…
- You empower them to make decisions…
- You teach them to run things without you…
And then… IT WORKS.
Suddenly, problems are solved without your input. Decisions are made without your approval. The machine runs smoothly. And you find yourself asking: “Do they even need me anymore?”
It’s a strange mix of pride and loneliness.
Pride, because you’ve built capacity.
Loneliness, because the spotlight isn’t on you anymore.
🚨 The Truth Leaders Don’t Always Admit
This is the success paradox of leadership:
- If your team cannot function without you, you haven’t built leaders—you’ve built dependents.
- If your team thrives without you, you’ve actually done your job well.
Your value isn’t in being the loudest voice in every decision—it’s in creating an ecosystem where good decisions happen even in your silence.
🌱 The Benefits of Getting Here
- Freedom for Vision. You’re no longer stuck in daily firefighting—you can focus on future direction.
- Stronger Teams. Staff feel trusted, capable, and loyal when they see you believe in them.
- Scalable Leadership. Your absence no longer equals collapse; your presence accelerates growth.
- Legacy. True leadership outlives you because others can carry the mission forward.
🛠 Practical Steps for Leaders at This Stage
- Reframe your role. You’re no longer the “chief problem-solver”—you’re the culture-shaper, vision-caster, and barrier-remover.
- Shift to mentoring. Instead of answering questions, ask better ones that stretch thinking.
- Create leadership space. Let your team lead meetings, propose strategies, and take ownership.
- Build peer networks. Combat loneliness by connecting with other leaders outside your team who understand the same stage.
- Celebrate quietly. When the system works without you, it’s not a threat—it’s evidence of leadership maturity.
💡 Final Word
The highest compliment a leader can receive isn’t “We can’t do this without you.” It’s “Because of you, we now can.”
“Leadership isn’t about being needed forever. It’s about being remembered for making others capable.” – Odhiambo J. Omondi
👉 Leaders, have you ever felt that tension—between empowering others and wondering if you still matter? How did you handle it?
Leadership Coach & Trainer | Culture Strategist | Growth Facilitator | Thought Leader | Founder @ILeadGrowth | Certified Facilitator Beyond Success Kenya | Motivational Speaker | Author of Broke No More & other transformative works | Mentor to Schools, Universities & Corporate Teams | Personal Growth & Potential Ignition Coach
