Lead- Don’t Rescue: Leadership Isn’t About You (Ouch) by Wes Mast

Let’s be honest—being the hero feels amazing.

You get the praise. You get the credit. You feel important. You feel necessary. You feel…in control. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

If leadership is always about you, it’s not really leadership.

I learned this lesson walking through a season of growth with one of the leaders in our company. This leader would come to me almost daily with problems they were having. I could see I was becoming a crutch- that instead of being there for support and encouragement, I was making it too easy for them to reach out to me instead of working through the process and making the decision. And this is the thing- this leader was strong and decisive, but there was something going on that was making them hesitant to take ownership. I learned that restraining myself from rushing in to fix their problems released their leadership abilities and allowed them to shine by working through these issues in their own way. It leveled up my leadership skills by showing me leadership shouldn’t always be about me. It’s important to find that balance between being there for the people on your leadership team, providing support, wisdom, and guidance and the extreme of always rushing in to put out every fire they encounter. 

The Hero Trap

Most leaders don’t start out selfish, they start out with good intentions. But somewhere along the way, we start believing that our value is found in our ability to step in and save the day.

We measure our worth by:

• How many problems we solve.
  
  
• How many people need us.
  
  
• How often we’re called on to fix something.
  
  

But when we make ourselves the center of the story, we rob our team of the chance to grow.

And what’s the end of that story? We burn out. Our team stalls. Everyone loses.

Leadership Means Shifting the Spotlight

The best leaders are more like directors than movie stars. More of a wise guide than a hero. They set the stage, develop the cast, and let others shine.

They ask questions like:

• How can I equip you, not just answer for you?
  
  
• How can I challenge you, not just comfort you?
  
  
• How can I make space for your growth, even if it’s slower than mine?
  
  

That requires security. Patience. And sometimes swallowing your pride.

But the payoff?
You stop being the bottleneck—and start building something that lives beyond you.

The Leadership Litmus Test

Here’s a quick gut check:

If you stepped away tomorrow, would things fall apart or would your team rise up?

If the answer makes you cringe a little, you’re not alone. This is the shift most leaders have to wrestle with—moving from being the answer to raising up people who find and own the answer themselves.

It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.

Are you enjoying this blog series? If you’d like to grow in your leadership skills, you’re in luck! Wes and Kristy have compiled a booklist of their favorite titles that have made the biggest impact on their business and leadership, called "The Shelf: 26 Must-Reads for Leaders"

📖 Download it free here. 📖