The Summer I Thought I Was Stepping Back
Let Your Team Rise While You Reset
I remember one summer in my agency days when I tried to take a full week off.
I left. But I didn’t really unplug.
I still responded to emails. Tweaked timelines. Checked in “just in case.”
At the time, it felt responsible.
Looking back, I can see it for what it was:
I didn’t fully trust my team—not because they weren’t capable, but because I hadn’t given myself the space to find out.
The real question isn’t Can they do the work?
It’s Do I trust them to lead without me watching?
That’s what summer can reveal.
When you pause, what rises in your team?
Do they wait for your return—or take initiative?
Do they maintain momentum—or just maintain?
We often say we want a team that “takes ownership.”
But that only happens when we give them space to rise.
And yes, there might be a stumble. But there’s also growth. Confidence. Leadership.
Letting go isn’t a risk. It’s a long-term investment in the kind of team—and agency—you want to build.
🔍 A reflection for your reset:
What is your team ready for—that you might not be ready to let go of?
Next week, we’ll explore the quieter side of summer—the systems that support you, the ones that don’t, and how to spot the difference before fall ramps up.
You don’t have to be in the weeds to stay in control. If you’re ready to build a team you trust to lead, let's talk.