The Pitfalls of a Hero Identity in Leadership - EP 2

Growth through Learning: leadership conversations for employee development

How do you make the shift from doing the work to supporting your team? In the previous episode of Growth Through Learning, Hannah Brown spoke with leaders about the problems that develop when organizations focus on short-term results instead of long-term growth. When short-term results take precedence, leaders who have risen to management from a team member position often feel as though they must continue doing the work they did before. They end up micromanaging their highly capable teams.

This episode explores how leaders can begin to make the shift from “doing” to “leading” and build strong, capable teams that last. Hannah explores the challenges leaders face in making this transition—so often, they struggle to maintain control and eventually burn out. Under such imposing oversight, their team members experience deepening job dissatisfaction.

Consider your own leadership style through a growth mindset lens:

• Why a focus on results leads to burnout and dissatisfaction;

• The importance of letting go of control to become the heart or mind of the team;

• The essential mindset shift from being the best to supporting the best;

• How leaders can adjust how they use their time to build self-sufficient teams.

Connect with the leaders who share their stories on the show:

• Christy Billan, Director of Small Business Lending Products, Farm Credit Canada - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christybillan/

• Christine Helgerman, Director, St. John's Christian Nursery School - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-helgerman-rece-7b6a9490/

• Len Switzer, Associate Director, Partnerships & External Relations, Michigan Technological University - https://www.linkedin.com/in/len-switzer/

• Adam Stephens, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/astephens77/

• Chantal McIntyre, Talent Strategist, Workplace Consultant, and Leadership Coach - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantal-mcintyre-www-chantalmcintyre-com/

Connect with Hannah:

• Pre-order Into the Hands of Leaders: Employee Growth Through Learning - https://hannahbrown.co/resources/books-and-articles/

• Learn more about Hannah’s work - https://hannahbrown.co/