Capability is attractive.
People trust the person who gets things done.
The person who stays calm.
The person who finds the solution.
The person who can always make another plan.
Until everyone starts assuming that person will handle it.
Competence creates responsibility.
Responsibility creates load.
When people know you can handle something, they may stop asking whether you should be handling it.
A sustainable leader asks:
“Can I do this?”
and also:
“Is this mine to do?”
Sometimes someone else needs to learn.
Sometimes someone else needs to take responsibility.
Sometimes the team needs to develop independence.
Sometimes your energy belongs somewhere more valuable.
Leadership is not measured by how much you carry.
It is measured partly by how much capacity you create around you.
Reflection
Where might your competence be creating dependency rather than capacity?