"A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves." — Eleanor Roosevelt

As an established B2B service business leader, have you ever felt the world's weight rests on your shoulders?

You're not alone. Many business owners feel like they must do everything themselves. But what if I told you that the key to success lies in empowering your team?

The Importance of Empowering Your Team

When I started working in my family business, I thought I had to do everything myself.

I was the "key man," the one who made all the decisions and handled all the critical tasks. But as my business grew, I quickly realized that this approach was unsustainable. I was burning out, and my team felt undervalued and disengaged.

That's when I learned the importance of empowering my team.

By hiring the right people and giving them the tools, training, and trust they needed to succeed, I could step back and focus on the big picture. And guess what? My team is thriving (well, most; nothing is ever perfect). They took ownership of their roles, developed innovative solutions to problems, and began to drive our business forward.

I am no longer the single point of failure (the bottleneck).

But empowering your team isn't always easy. There are common barriers that can hold you back.

Let's look at five of these barriers and how to overcome them.

Barrier 1: Resistance to Change

Change is hard, especially when you've been doing things a certain way for a long time. Your team may resist new responsibilities or processes, fearing they'll fail or their workload will increase. Maybe you, too, fear this sometimes, and you're setting that 'culture' of thinking.

To overcome this barrier, it's crucial to communicate the benefits of change and involve your team in the process.

Help them understand how their new roles and responsibilities will contribute to the business's success. Be open to their feedback and ideas—they may have valuable insights that you haven't considered.

But above all, you need to set the standard and be the model for why change is good.

Barrier 2: Lack of Trust

Trust is the foundation of any successful team. If you don't trust your team to handle important tasks and make decisions, they won't feel empowered to take ownership of their roles.

Building trust takes time and consistency.

Be transparent with your team about your expectations and the reasons behind your decisions. Give them the opportunity to prove themselves by gradually delegating tasks and responsibilities.

Barrier 3: Insufficient Training

Your team can't succeed without the skills and knowledge to do their jobs effectively. Without proper training, they may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle new responsibilities.

To overcome this barrier, invest in your team's development.

Identify skill gaps and provide relevant training opportunities, whether through in-house workshops, online courses, or mentorship programs. And don't forget to celebrate their progress and successes along the way.

Barrier 4: Micromanagement

As a business owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of micromanagement. You may feel like you need to oversee every detail to ensure that things are done "right." However, micromanagement can be demotivating and disempowering for your team.

To shift towards a more empowering leadership style, focus on setting clear expectations and providing guidance and support when needed.

Trust your team to handle the details and make decisions within their areas of expertise. But you're not just abdicating; you'll hold people accountable for the results they were hired to produce.

But remember, mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.

Barrier 5: Poor Communication  

Effective communication is essential for team empowerment. If your team doesn't feel heard or informed, they may become disengaged and disconnected from the business's goals and priorities.

To improve communication, establish regular check-ins and feedback sessions with your team.

Encourage open and honest dialogue, and be receptive to their ideas and concerns.

According to Kim Scott, in Radical Candor, immediate, informal feedback is critical to effective leadership. When you do, it makes it possible to address issues and build on successes promptly.

Treating feedback as a habitual action, like brushing teeth, prevents bigger issues from emerging in the future or postponing difficult conversations.

The Benefits of an Empowered Team

Overcoming these barriers to team empowerment is challenging, but the benefits are worth the effort.

When your team feels empowered, they're more engaged, productive, and invested in the business's success. They bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. They are more likely to go above and beyond to deliver exceptional results.

But most importantly, empowering your team frees you up to focus on the big picture.

Instead of getting bogged down in day-to-day operations, you can work on strategic planning, innovation, and growth.

And that's what being a leader is all about.

As a leader, you can transform your team and your business by empowering your people. You can create a culture of ownership, innovation, and success.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start empowering your team today.

Trust me, you won't regret it if you've hired the right people.