I have built a solid leadership team and filled the seats on our Accountability Chart, but they still hesitate to make major decisions without my final stamp of approval. How do I get them to fully own their seats?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your team still looks to you for permission on every major decision, you have not actually delegated authority; you have just delegated tasks. This dependency ruins your company's value because a buyer wants to acquire a self-sustaining business, not an owner-dependent job.

To break this cycle, you must practice active restraint. The next time a leader comes to you with a problem and asks what they should do, do not give them the answer. Instead, ask them what they recommend based on their seat's responsibilities. Force them to do the thinking and make the call.

Validate their decisions, even if they make mistakes, as long as they learn from them and follow the company's V/TO®. Over time, this builds their confidence and teaches them that they truly own their seats. You must step back so they can step up. Use your weekly Level 10 Meetings™ to monitor progress, not to micromanage their daily execution. True leadership team strength means the business runs flawlessly when you are not in the room.