Let’s be honest, it feels good to be needed.
Am I right?
The texts, the quick calls, the “can you take a look at this?” moments… they make us feel important. Like we matter. Like we’re adding value.
So when that slows down—when your phone gets quieter, when people stop coming to you for every answer—it can stir up something unexpected:
Wait… do they still need me?
Am I doing something wrong?
I remember this so clearly from my executive years especially during the shift from operator to leader of leaders. I wasn’t the one executing the plans anymore. I had to work through others, cast vision, keep the team aligned… and cheer them on while letting go.
It felt odd at first. I felt a bit guilty.
I was so used to being in it solving, fixing, moving fast.
But something clicked as we grew, and I knew that for them—and for all of us—I had to shift:
The less they need you day-to-day, the more you’ve empowered them.
But that doesn’t mean you disappear.
You become the vision carrier—the one who holds the bigger picture, sets the tone, and ensures no one loses sight of what matters most.
Your role is to connect the dots between strategy and execution and be the catalyst that helps others carry the vision through to the results you’re after.
Because complete disengagement doesn’t work, not today.
And ultimately?
It’s all about you and the shifts you make to rise to the next level of leadership.
That said, there are moments when you do have to lean back in.
I remember it vividly during the early days of COVID. For us, it was crisis-level—everything was on the line. I had to jump back in—full-on, hands-on, sleeves rolled up, deeply connected with my team and the day-to-day.
It was necessary. Leadership in that moment was about being in the thick of it with the people doing the work.
And that’s the real work of leadership: having the discernment to know when to step in—and the courage to step back.
Modern leadership is about showing up where you’re most valuable, not just most visible.
Whether you’re leading a big team, a small but mighty crew, or laying the foundation to grow—this shift is where sustainable leadership begins.
Here are 3 quick ways to embrace it plus a few pro tips to make it real:
1. Recast the Vision
Let your team (or future team) know why things are changing. Share the bigger picture, the new role you're stepping into, and what it means for them. Empowerment starts with clarity.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just share the vision—equip them with the tools to succeed. SOPs, clear priorities, and defined outcomes help your team own it tactically, not just conceptually.
2. Redefine Your Value
You’re no longer valuable because people rely on you every minute. You’re valuable because you create momentum, direction, and trust even when you're not in the room.
đź’ˇ Pro Tip: Define the real value YOU create by empowering others. Is it higher sales? A new innovation? Faster decision-making? Clarity here keeps you focused on outcomes that actually move the needle not just staying busy. You are shifting to add new value, get clear on what that is, it changes things.
3. Watch the Control Trap
A calendar with zero white space is a warning sign. Overbooked leaders often struggle to let go because being “in it” feels safer. But sustainable leadership happens when you create space to see ahead.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the space you’ve reclaimed. Block time weekly for strategic thinking and prep before key meetings. This margin allows you to show up as your best.
If this hits home, you’re not alone. It takes guts to evolve your leadership—and even more to sit in the space you’ve created and trust it’s working.
You’re not becoming less important.
You’re becoming more impactful.
🎯 Want to go deeper?
I’m hosting a free live workshop:
The 5 Moves Modern Leaders Are Making Right Now
…to stay steady in the chaos, influence others no matter the size of their team (or business), and dial in on what is actually going to move the needle.
I’ll be sharing the biggest lessons—and a few mishaps—I’ve never told before from my own leadership journey.
You’ll walk away with fresh tools and clarity to lead today and prepare for what’s next.
🗓️ Wednesday, July 23rd at 3 PM ET
Live on Zoom | 45 minutes + Q/A| Free
This one’s free—and it just might set you free.
Fueling the Work: A Wellness Reframe on Food
When you're not leading, building, creating, or navigating constant decision-making, your brain is working overtime. And your body is right there with it - holding tension, staying alert, and keeping pace.
But here's the part many leaders overlook: Food isn't just fuel. It's support. It's strategy. It's care.
Yet so many high-capacity people fall into two patterns when it comes to eating:
- The productivity trap: skipping meals, eating whatever's fastest, or relying on caffeine until it's time to crash.
- The wellness guilt loop: feeling like if it's not perfectly organic, whole or "clean", it doesn't count.
Let's step out of both.
What if food became part of how you lead well?
Not because it checks a box, but because:
-> You make better decisions when your blood sugar is steady
-> You have more patience when your body isn't depleted
-> You speak more clearly when you're nourished
-> You show up for others more fully when you've shown up for yourself
We don't believe in perfection at Modwellship, we believe in practice.
Eat to stay connected - to your energy, your clarity, your focus, and your future self.
That might look like:
-> Keeping simple snacks nearby that won't spike and crash you
-> Setting a lunch appointment in your calendar like you would a client meeting
-> Drinking water before your cup of coffee
-> Having one go-to, feel-good meal that you can make or reheat without effort
And when things don't go as planned? That's okay. One skipped meal doesn't define your wellness. But patterns do. And you have the power to reset your patterns with small, repeatable steps.
Join Us!
Wednesday, July 23, 3 PM ET
The 5 Moves Modern Leaders Make to Stay SOLID, Energized, and Ahead
A free executive-level masterclass for operators, business and organizational leaders who are ready to evolve how they lead - with clarity, presence, and strategic momentum.
Save my spot here!
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