YBB Newsletter

I remember being promoted to Head of the UK Practice. It felt like a validation - that all my hard work had paid off. But along with that promotion came the nagging belief, that to keep proving myself, I had to stay on top of everything.

Many of us feel this way when our management and leadership responsibilities grow, even though we know we can’t do it all ourselves. So the question I am asking today is: “How do we let go?”

Effectiveness over Efficiency

Getting things done starts off as a habit, but practised over time, it takes over and becomes the goal - the bar against which we measure our value, contribution and worth.

When management and leadership remits increase - more people, more projects, more strategic oversight, if we continue to work in this way, we will have to work longer and longer hours to keep up. At some point this becomes unsustainable and builds resentment: you might find yourself asking “why am I working so late” or “why doesn’t everyone else care as much as me?”

Ask yourself this: What if leadership was less about proving yourself through output and more about maximising your team's potential? The most effective managers and leaders know that their value lies in how well they can delegate, coach, and elevate their team—not in how many tasks they can cross off on their own.

Courage over Comfort

Holding onto everything can feel safe. After all, you got to where you are through hard work, solving problems and making yourself available, so how will you keep progressing if you ease up on this?

But as you try to manage everything, the pressure builds. It’s exhausting, overwhelming, and can quickly drain the joy out of the work you once enjoyed. You might feel stuck in a cycle of constantly firefighting—never quite having the space to think strategically or innovate.

Letting go might make you worry about being seen as less competent, but in reality, when you delegate, you’re not giving up control, you’re sharing it. And in doing so, you create more space for creativity, strategy, and growth—not just for you, but for your entire team.

3 things to TRY to give letting go more of a go

1. OPEN UP MORE OPTIONS: Between being a do-er and a delegator, there’s a middle ground. Experiment with a more or less hands off approach to find your sweet spot.

2. SUPPORT, DON’T SOLVE: I have James Pickles to thank for this soundbite. Instead of offering solutions, invite people to think about the problem for themselves. Sometimes it’s not a solution people want, it’s reassurance or a sounding board. Where have you got to? What’s the issue? What ideas have you got? What support do you need from me?

3. START SMALL: Ask yourself: What can someone else take on that will help them grow?

Want to work with me?

I help talented insight professionals become effective managers and strategic leaders.

I run 121 and group coaching programmes within agencies.

I am also running a group programme for insight professionals, from a mix of agencies and client-side. We have a 75minute group coaching call a week, plus ongoing support from me & your peers between sessions. It’s for those with growing management and leadership responsibilities who want to go from:

Doing it Themselves to Empowering & Enabling Others

Dodging Difficult Conversations to Communicating Honestly and with Clarity

Executing the Work to Operating Strategically

Starting January 15th. Only £595pp.

Curious? Or want to get my point of view on a specific individual, team or business challenge? - get in touch at zoe@youburnbright to book a chat.

Thank you for reading

I would love to hear any feedback you have or topics you’d like covered. And please share with your team, colleagues and friends, if you think they’d enjoy the read.