Are you the bottleneck in your business?

Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read

Hey Reader,

1. A quick word from Zach

If every decision, approval, and rescue has to run through you, your business may not have a team problem first. It may have an owner bottleneck problem.

2. Something worth reading

If you’ve been blaming your team for not carrying more weight, EntreLeadership is a worthwhile read. It will press you to look first at your own leadership - the clarity you’ve provided, the trust you’re building, and the kind of culture your habits are creating.

3. Something worth thinking about

“

Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.'

~ Exodus 18:17-18
(read the entire section for Jethro's solution)

4. Something worth trying

This week, don’t start by trying to fix every bottleneck in the business.

Start by finding them.

For the next five workdays, track every time someone on your team needs your approval, memory, judgment, decision, or rescue before the work can move forward.

At the end of the week, ask two questions:

Which of these moments truly required my leadership?
Which ones could be reduced with clearer training, better expectations, stronger systems, or more trust?

That’s exactly why I created The Owner Bottleneck Audit. It’s a simple five-day tool to help you see where the business is still too dependent on you, so you can start loosening your grip in the right places. You can grab it for free here.

That's a wrap. Have a great week.

To thriving,

Zach Wise

Find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube,
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What is "Dear Sam", anyway? This column started with a real person — a friend and client named Sam. I write each issue with him in mind, and with you in mind, too.

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