Solving everything is so hard!
Look, I get it. You’re a CEO. A fixer. A problem-solving machine. You see an issue, and before anyone finishes explaining it, you’ve already mapped out the solution in your head.
Feels good, right? Efficient. Smart. A+ CEO-ing.
Except… it’s not.
Because every time you jump in with “the answer,” you’re training your team to rely on you for everything. They stop thinking. They stop growing. And then one day, you look around and realize you’ve built a team that can’t function without you. Congrats, you played yourself.
Patience: Your New Leadership Superpower (Yes, Really)
Here’s the thing: Good leadership isn’t about having the answers. It’s about creating an environment where your team finds them. And that takes patience. The Vistage Issue Processing Framework forces you to sit on your hands (metaphorically… mostly) and let the process work.
Every month, my Vistage group tackles 6-10 real, thorny, business-threatening issues. CEOs like you bring their biggest problems to the room, and we don’t let you just fix them. Instead, we pick them apart, question assumptions, and get to the real root of the issue. Then—and only then—do we talk solutions.
It’s frustrating at first, like switching from espresso to herbal tea. But you know what happens? You get better. You learn how to guide conversations instead of dominating them. Your team starts thinking for themselves. You build trust instead of dependence. And suddenly, you’re not the bottleneck in your own company.
Reps Matter. Get Yours In.
Leadership isn’t something you master once and then coast on forever. It’s like the gym—skip enough workouts, and suddenly you’re winded walking up the stairs. Vistage gives you the reps you need to stay sharp.
You get to practice—over and over—solving problems collaboratively, asking better questions, and letting your team step up. And, honestly, wouldn’t it be nice if your exec team could handle more so you could actually go on vacation without your phone blowing up?
Join Us (Or Keep Micromanaging—Your Call)
If you’re ready to stop being the answer machine and start being the executive leader your company actually needs, let’s talk. Get in the reps, and watch your leadership game level up.
Or, you know, keep doing everything yourself. Totally your call.
Live & LeadWell,
~E
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