As a business leader or owner, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself. That quiet, yet unyielding need for full control to ensure the job is done correctly is not unique. It may have stemmed from necessity initially, as most businesses are started with only one person manning the ship, but as your business grows, you find yourself desperately clinging to control. There’s a name for that, “superhero-itis”.
Superhero-itis is that relentless urge to take on every task, fix every problem, and be the ultimate go-to person in your business. You’re the hero who works late at night, juggles multiple roles, and rarely asks for help. You embrace the notion that everything will fall apart without you constantly at the helm. While it may seem admirable, this mindset often leads to burnout, stalled growth, and missed opportunities.
The true sign of a well-run business is its ability to work without the owner to ensure every facet is running as it efficiently as possible. Successful delegation and confidence in your team to skilfully perform the tasks assigned to them, unsupervised – is the sign your “superhero-itis” is cured. The achievement of tasks, goals and KPIs are all necessary to ensure you don’t have to maintain your case of “superhero-itis”.
What are the tell-tale signs of “Superhero-itis”?
- You’re constantly saying “yes” to everything
- Your to-do list never gets shorter
- You micromanage a LOT of tasks
- You’re often exhausted but feel you can’t stop
- You’re the first to jump in when problems arise for your team
- Your business runs because of you, not without you
- You struggle to focus on strategy
- You believe it’s faster to do it yourself than train someone else to do it
The 5 cures for Superhero-itis:
- Recognise Your Strengths – And Your Limits
You don’t have to be an expert in everything. Identify where you add the most value to your business and focus your energy there. Allow others to take charge in areas where you may be weak, thereby ensuring all aspects of your business are run by someone who is strong in that area.
- Delegate With Trust
Find capable team members or identify and outsource tasks that don’t require your direct involvement. Delegation isn’t losing control; it’s creating capacity. By delegating tasks to others, your time is free to be spent doing what you’re best at while your team members focus on what they do best.
- Build Systems That Work
Invest time in creating sustainable processes. Systems are the foundation that lets your business run smoothly without you handling every detail but still knowing your team is doing things “your way”.
- Prioritise Self-Care And Boundaries
Leaders who take care of themselves make better decisions and inspire their teams more effectively. You cannot pour from an empty cup and your business requires passion and energy to thrive, take time away to refresh yourself.
- Understand Where It’s Coming From
Your need for control could be connected to the fear of failure, appearing vulnerable, perfectionism, or your personal identity may be attached to “working hard” or being overly responsible. Either way, trying to isolate and calm these feelings is necessary.
At ActionCOACH, we define a successful business as one that can thrive without your daily involvement.
When your business runs independently, working in it becomes a choice, not a necessity. The key to achieving this lies in building systems and a team that are not only capable, but even better than you at what they do.
That way, you don’t have to live in your superhero cape.
How many of these signs do you recognise in yourself, if any – and what will help you put the cape down?
