L e t
G o to Help Leaders
Level Up
2025 Issue 3 | GearedUp
22
“
O ne of the most difficult things to do as a leader is to let go.
Because at the end of the day, we trust ourselves. Sometimes we say things like, well, I’ m just going to do a better job, so why don’ t I just do it? But the problem is that we’ re making the whole business reliant on us, and that’ s a weak business.” – Simon Sinek
Multi-club leaders have the unique responsibility of bridging the gap between strategic planning and on-the-ground execution. It’ s a unique role that can be challenging, as it requires balancing multiple priorities while dealing with frequent obstacles and interruptions. For these individuals, finding success isn’ t about avoiding every challenge that arises. It’ s about approaching challenges in the right way. What’ s required is letting go of the urge to do everything themselves and instead embracing delegation and focusing on empowering those they oversee to lead their own teams. If done well, they can cultivate stronger, more effective teams and improve overall organizational performance.
The business management consulting firm ReWild Group uses creative analogies to explore two different approaches to performance management and problem solving: the Watchmaker and the Beekeeper. Read through the descriptions and consider how the leadership approaches in your organization compare.
The Watchmaker Mindset
A watchmaker works in a world of precision and control. Watches are finely calibrated machines with delicate, intricate parts. They are inanimate objects with no agency or will, passive pieces of the equation. When something breaks, it is up to the watchmaker to identify the problem and by Rachel Bridges find the solution. The watchmaker takes control of every aspect of the business, assuming that nothing will happen without their direct intervention.
The Beekeeper Mindset
Contrast this picture of a watchmaker with that of a beekeeper. The beekeeper understands how the hive functions and what it needs to thrive, but they can’ t make the honey themselves. Their role is to foster an environment that supports the bees to produce honey. Appreciating the dynamics of the hive, the beekeeper doesn’ t attempt to control every detail. Instead, they depend on creating a healthy environment that creates positive ripple effects to influence areas they can’ t reach directly. Understanding that there are a lot of