Creating a Leadership Pipeline (So Everything Doesn’t Rely on You)
Here’s the cold truth:
If everything falls apart when you step away, you’re not leading — you’re babysitting.
It’s not a knock. We’ve all been there — answering every question, approving every decision, jumping into every fire. But here’s the thing: Leadership isn’t about doing everything. It’s about building other people who can.
A solid leadership pipeline turns chaos into consistency. It gives you space to lead at a higher level — and gives your team the tools to rise.
Let’s talk about how to build one.
1. Stop Hoarding Knowledge
If you’re the only one who knows how things work, congrats — you’ve created a bottleneck (and a burnout recipe).
👉🏾 “Let’s document this together so others can run with it.”
Why this works:
• Empowers others to take ownership
• Frees you up for strategic work
• Builds resilience across the team
If you want leaders, start by sharing what you know.
2. Identify Who’s Ready (Not Just Who’s Loud)
Leadership potential doesn’t always look like the loudest person in the room. Look for problem-solvers, not spotlight seekers.
👉🏾 “I’ve noticed how you handled that situation — ever thought about taking on more responsibility?”
Why this works:
• Encourages growth in people who might not raise their hand
• Builds a more diverse, well-rounded leadership team
• Signals that leadership is earned, not appointed
Leadership isn’t just for the usual suspects.
3. Delegate for Development
Want future leaders? Let them lead — even if it’s a little messy at first.
👉🏾 “I want you to run point on this. I’ll support you, but it’s yours.”
Why this works:
• Builds confidence and skills through action
• Helps you assess readiness in real time
• Reinforces trust and ownership
The best way to learn to lead is to do it.
4. Coach Instead of Correct
If your feedback always sounds like a fix-it list, your team won’t grow — they’ll just wait for instructions.
👉🏾 “What do you think worked well? Where would you improve?”
Why this works:
• Promotes reflection and self-awareness
• Builds leadership thinking instead of task execution
• Positions you as a mentor, not a micromanager
Coaching creates leaders. Correcting creates followers.
5. Create Clear Paths Forward
People need to see what’s next. If leadership feels like a mystery club, no one’s going to sign up.
👉🏾 “Here’s what growing into a leadership role could look like for you.”
Why this works:
• Sets expectations and direction
• Keeps high-potential team members engaged
• Makes leadership feel accessible
Leadership should feel like a possibility — not a secret.
Why It Matters
You can’t scale chaos. And you can’t keep saying “yes” to everything forever. A leadership pipeline gives you time back, builds team strength, and keeps your org from falling apart the moment you take a vacation.
Your Challenge This Week:
Pick one person on your team and give them a stretch assignment. Then coach, don’t control.
Next week, we’ll talk about how to build influence outside your team (because leadership isn’t just about your org chart).