Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] In this episode, you'll learn why being good at your job is quietly strangling your business growth and the one self awareness move you can make today to grow your business in the next 90 days.
[00:00:11] Welcome to why your business isn't growing and how to fix it, a podcast for business owners who want practical people powered ways to grow your business without burning out. Hey, I'm Brendan Rogers and here's a quick could the very talent that built your career be the handbrake slowing your business growth? If your team keeps circling you for answers and you're stuck on the tools instead of steering the ship, listen in. This one move could free up your calendar within seven days.
[00:00:41] Now, the common belief is that most business owners and senior pros reckon technical expertise automatically makes you a great leader.
[00:00:50] Be the best engineer, salesperson or designer and boom. You're handed a team. Now I get it. I wore that badge with pride too. Your skills built the revenue, won the accolades and even paid the school fees. Stepping in to fix things feels noble and efficient. I want to flash Back to my first leadership gig. Team leading 12 people in a brand new customer service center for a global shipping company.
[00:01:16] Promoted because I was good at my job.
[00:01:19] I worked 7am to 8pm, hijacked every tricky call, even built the shift roster solo. What was the result?
[00:01:27] Morale. Nosedived call wait times actually blew out by 40% and I lost two of my top customer service people in the first three months.
[00:01:37] My supposed super skills had become the chokepoint. And when your team relies on your answers, you cap their growth and choke your own.
[00:01:47] The real engine for growing your business isn't more skill, it's more self awareness.
[00:01:53] High impact leaders trade their hero cape for the guide's compass by building three microhabits.
[00:02:00] First one Ask before you answer. Curiosity beats cleverness.
[00:02:06] So before giving a solution, ask one question.
[00:02:09] What options have you already considered?
[00:02:12] This buys thinking time and builds ownership.
[00:02:16] The second point? Develop, don't do. Grow others mastery.
[00:02:22] Give the task back with guardrails. Outline your plan. I'll review, then you run with it.
[00:02:29] And the third thing? Zoom out before diving in. Guard the bigger picture.
[00:02:34] Schedule a two hour strategy block every week where tactical chatter is banned.
[00:02:39] Ask what will matter 90 days from now and what must we start? Stop or tweak Today, Start every day with what I call the look in the mirror exercise and ask this one question.
[00:02:53] How will I lead with my team?
[00:02:56] Not for my team. Today. This will set up your day with intention. Now remember, small improvements every day. That's how serious Growth happens.
[00:03:07] Stack these habits and compound interest kicks in for your calendar, your culture and your cash flow. Now take a client of mine, an ops manager who was drowning in meetings by his own admission, each month he controlled barely half of his calendar. We introduced one habit, at least seven hours a week on the floor, observing his team as they worked and asking open ended questions.
[00:03:32] Eight weeks later, he'd clawed back 25% of his time, spotted a pump layout fix now saving the company six figures a year. And my favourite metric, a couple of operators told his dad, your son actually cares. He's out here at 4am with us.
[00:03:49] And the bonus to all this, with the extra bandwidth he created, he mentored a frontline supervisor who's since rolled out the same habit, doubling the impact without the ops manager even lifting a finger. Proof that asking beats answering when you want sustainable business growth.
[00:04:06] So here's your seven day challenge. Keep a tally on your phone. Every time you answer a team question, mark an A.
[00:04:14] Every time you ask a coaching question, mark a cue, flip that ratio toward cues by week's end. Awareness is step one in learning how to how to grow your business through people, not heroics.
[00:04:28] If an OPS manager reclaimed a quarter of his week, imagine what you could do.
[00:04:33] Remember, being great at your job got you here. Self awareness will take you and your team where you really want to go.
[00:04:41] I'm Brendan Rogers and this is why your business isn't growing and how to fix it. If today's thought hit home, share it with another leader who's hungry to grow their business or without burning out.
[00:04:52] Until next time, grow yourself, grow your business.
