Every leader I know is saying the same thing: The world’s just getting messier, faster, and less predictable every day. Ops leaders are under fire nonstop, keeping things moving while everyone’s watching and waiting for you to fix it. You do it all because, honestly, if you don’t, who will?
It’s easy to feel like “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done”. Pause? Delegate? Yeah, right. Most days, it doesn’t feel that simple particularly when nobody else gets it like you do.
What if you could break that cycle to shift gears and lighten your load?
If that “only I can fix this” tape keeps playing in your head, keep listening for a way to interrupt the grind, lead smarter, conserve your energy for what really matters, and maybe even enjoy the ride.
Why Ops Leaders Carry All the Weight
Most days, you’re powering through and thinking: “If I don’t handle it, nobody will.” You do everything that’s in front of you, patch problems, make quick decisions, and keep things afloat. “Pause” is simply not in your vocabulary when so much is at stake.
Yeah, you own your mistakes. But you also keep replaying those moments: “Did I push hard enough? What did I miss?” When you’re bulldozing through tasks, it can feel like grinding harder is the only way out.
Truth is, a lot of people are in the same boat. Uncertainty just comes with the territory, doesn’t it?
How the “Only I Can Fix This” Cycle Drains Leaders
If you’re worn out from carrying it all, know this: the real lever for it starts in your head. That “only I can fix this” story keeps you locked in grind mode and limits what’s possible for everyone.
So, what do you do about it?
Sometimes I recommend working with a thought ladder. It doesn’t mean softening your drive, just catching those “I have to do it all” thoughts, interrupting them and dialing it down a notch so you can get out of chronic overdrive.
How to Apply and Practice the Thought Ladder
You wouldn’t expect your best machines to run nonstop without a tune-up, would you? So why run yourself that way? Here’s one possible alternative:
- Listen for that very familiar thought that keeps you stuck and frustrated. Might sound like: “I’m the only one who can fix this,” or “If I don’t do it, everything’s gonna fall apart.”
- Challenge it. Is it actually true every time? And, I really love this question: Where does it leave you—and the team, and your organization—if you’re the only one who ever takes responsibility?
- Downshift it by one notch. Try something with a little looser grip, like “I’ll let them handle this one and see what happens.” Or, “Maybe my stepping back will someone else step up.” Or even “Wow, I’m noticing that I’m having this thought again, that if I don’t do it, everything will fall apart.” – Whatever a ‘next level’ thought is, that would give you at least a little bit of space.
Paying attention to your thoughts, not just letting them run you, is a discipline. But one sliver of intention here can mean gains in energy and time where it counts. (And yes, maybe even a little more enjoyment.)
So next time you catch yourself gripping those reins tighter, just pause and ask:
- What am I telling myself here?
- Is it really true, or just an old habit?
- What might be possible if I loosened my grip just one degree?
Brave leadership isn’t just saving the day, it’s making things right and sustainable for the long-run.
Try it out. I’d love to hear what happens for you!
If this episode clicks, you might find episode 80, “Should Ops Execs Stop Picking Up the Slack?” helpful. It gets into why setting boundaries is so hard and how letting go can make you a better leader. Check it out at YourFutureRealized.com/80.
You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.