Why Letting Go as an Owner Can Help Your Business Grow

The word “owner” implies a lot of things. You’re in charge. You’re the brains of the operation. You’re the one who should be calling the shots.

And it’s not always ego that clings to these definitions and connotations. There’s a sense of responsibility and burden you take on when holding this title — when owning the idea of what an entrepreneur should be.

Give credit where credit is due and recognize that you deserve a lot of kudos for getting your business to where it is today. But just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you’re solely on the hook for propelling it forward. Letting go of this mentality, among other things, is a step in the right direction for helping your business grow.

There’s Only One of You and 24 Hours in a Day

There’s a difference between holding yourself accountable in business and holding tightly to the reigns, so much so that you stand in your own way of ever getting things done. You have to realize that at the end of the day, you’re only one person — one person up against unmovable time constraints.

Time management isn’t the key to productivity. It isn’t going to allow you to find a few extra hours or minutes where there previously were none. And even if it did, it wouldn’t automatically result in your ability to get more done.

Attention management is a better alternative worth focusing on. Give priority to the projects that matter most in growing your business, as well as the people (outside of just yourself) that can help you in tackling them.

Some People Are Smarter Than You

Look, we’re not here to make you feel bad about your business owner self. That wouldn’t be very productive (or kind) of us. But there’s a time and a place for tough love — like right here and now.

There’s always going to be someone out there smarter than you (for example, these 40 people). And that’s a good thing for the sake of innovation and diversity. It’s also a good thing for the sake of your business.

I mean, if Johann Goethe (aka “the last man in the world to know everything”) were alive today and wanted to work for you, wouldn’t you at least think about it? Delegating the things on your plate you’d rather not do to those that specialize in them will only do good things for your business in the long run.

Plus, no one expects you to know everything as a business owner. You’ll likely garner much more respect and loyalty from employees when you’re willing to admit that you don’t.

You Could Benefit from a Vacation

Delegating tasks openly and strategically doesn’t only benefit your image — it can also benefit your mental well-being. With less of the day-to-day on your plate to tackle, you can gradually make downtime a greater priority.

Turning your devices off and investing brainpower in something other than your business (think family, friends, and hobbies) helps you return to the grind with a renewed sense of motivation. Put your business problems in the hands of someone else, take a break, and you might be pleasantly surprised with the solutions they come up with when you’re back in the saddle.