5 Reasons Why You Should Focus on Leading, Not Managing

When you reach a certain level in your business, you no longer need to be a doer. There comes a time when you need to make a shift into a leadership role.

As a female entrepreneur who likely started from the ground up, you are in the habit of constantly juggling a million different things. You're running a successful business, and now you're hiring team, you're finding clients, and you're launching your next big idea all while juggling household tasks, kids, and making sure you're being present with your spouse.

When you're juggling ALL of the things, it can be tempting to try to micromanage every aspect of your business (and home), but it's important to resist that urge. Instead, focus on leading your people.

Here are five reasons why that's the best way to get the long-term results you're looking for.

Create the Freedom to Thrive

When you focus on leading your people, you are focused on their development and helping them reach their potential. This can often lead to better long-term results because when people feel appreciated and supported by you, their leader, they're more likely to go all in on your business. When you allow your people the freedom to fail, you also give them the freedom to thrive. Let them do their jobs - even if it's not the exact way you would have done it. You never know... their way might be better.

Avoid Frustration and Resentment

Micromanaging your team will only lead to frustration and resentment. People want to feel like they are trusted to do their job well, and when you micromanage them, it communicates a lack of trust. When people don't feel trusted... they leave. When you hire a team member, you're hiring them to become a part of your business. Let them be the expert you hired them to be.

Free Up Your Time

When you focus on leading instead of managing, you free up your time to work ON your business instead of IN it. Imagine having the brain space to come up with new ideas instead of constantly managing all the day to day tasks. This is the only way to scale a successful business.

Decrease Turnover

Leaders inspire others to be their best selves; managers simply tell people what to do. Which do you think will get better results? You likely became an entrepreneur because you were tired of being told what to do day in and day out. As the leader, yes, you need to set expectations, but if you're now allowing any freedom... your people will leave you just like you left your previous life.

Leaders Create Leaders

Finally, remember that as the leader, it is your responsibility to set the tone for the entire organization. If you're stressed out and micromanaging everything, that's the energy you're putting out there for everyone else to absorb. But if you're confident and focused on leading, that's the kind of positive energy that will radiate throughout your company. When you're a confident leader - you create a team of confident leaders.

So there you have it—five powerful reasons why focusing on leading instead of managing will help you build a successful business that lasts. As a female entrepreneur, it's important to remember that we wear many hats and sometimes we have to choose which one we're going to focus on at any given moment. But if you want to build a thriving business, it's always going to be more beneficial in the long run to focus less on managing - and more on leading your people.