You didn’t just start a business – you raised it. You’ve poured in time, energy and sleepless nights to nurture an idea to life.
So, it’s natural to feel protective. To want things done your way.
But here’s the trap: What worked in the early days won’t work forever.
Coddle your business, and you’ll suffocate its potential.
The best leaders trust their business to evolve – and they evolve with it.
And the key to that evolution? Listening.
Not just to customers, but to the people helping you build your business – your team.
The over-achiever’s dilemma: When “knowing best” hurts instead of helps
You built your business through sheer willpower. You were the strategist, executor, and the safety net.
That got you here. But will it get you there?
- What if the market has shifted in a way you haven’t noticed?
- What if your team sees blind spots you don’t?
- What if the best next step is one you’d never consider?
- Notice inefficiencies you’ve adapted to.
- Interact with customers in ways you don’t.
- Live your company culture – both its strengths and limitations.
Their ideas might feel unnecessary – or even disruptive – at first. But what if one of those ideas is exactly what your business needs?
Listening isn’t about agreeing with everything. It’s about making space for what you don’t yet know.
Your role isn’t to make every decision – it’s to make decisions possible
When you shift from decision maker to decision enabler, you create an environment where:
- The best ideas surface – even when they challenge your own.
- People take ownership – because they know their voice matters.
- Success isn’t just about you – it’s about the collective strength of the team.
The challenge? True listening requires letting go.
It’s not just hearing – it’s stepping beyond your own biases, emotional attachment and need for control.
Why even smart leaders struggle to listen
Even the best-intentioned leaders can accidently block innovation due to:
- Time pressures – Rushed conversations miss valuable insights.
- Bias – Experience, role, or generational differences can cloud judgment.
- Defensiveness – Fear of being challenged can block open dialogue.
- Jumping to solutions – Addressing symptoms rather than root issues.
- Distractions – Emails, phones, and internal noise prevent real presence.
And when listening takes a backseat?
- Business stagnates.
- Engagement drops.
- Opportunities slip away.
How to lead through listening (without losing direction)
We’re taught to read, write and speak – but rarely how to listen. Yet, listening isn’t passive. It’s an active leadership skill that fuels growth. And, like any skill, you can sharpen it.
- Create “listening zones”. Proactively schedule distraction-free time for team-lead discussions and customer feedback.
- Stay curious, not defensive. When an idea surprises you, resist the urge to dismiss it. Instead, try “tell me more“.
- Ask better questions: Instead of “Will this work?”, ask open-ended questions like “How do you see this improving our business?” and “What challenges do you anticipate?”
- Listen through their lens: Tune into their perspective, interests and concerns. Understand their world, not just their words.
- Clarify, don’t assume. “So, what I’m hearing is…” ensures ideas aren’t lost in translation.
- Create a feedback loop. Show you value their input by acting on it – or at least explaining why not.
The power of letting go
Your business will grow not because you control everything, but because you create the space for others to contribute.
- Ask yourself: “Am I priorisiting business success – or my need to be right?”, “Can I admit my own weaknesses and leverage the strengths and perspectives of others?”
- Experiment: Ask questions to empower your team to take ownership, solve problems, and innovate.
- Reflect: What’s on idea you’ve resisted lately? What could you gain by truly listening to it?
How do you create space for your team’s best ideas?
