Ever feel like you’re juggling a hundred things, but barely moving forward? That’s the trap of being a “Chief Everything Officer”. It’s the quickest path to burnout and a surefire way to keep your business stuck in the weeds.

I saw this firsthand with a nonprofit CEO I worked with. She was talented, driven, and committed to her mission. But she was also buried in the details – reviewing every contract, tracking every expense, and sitting in on every meeting. She felt like she had to be everywhere at once to keep things moving. It wasn’t just tiring; it was holding her organization back.

Eventually, she made a critical shift. She started trusting her team, letting go of the tasks that drained her energy, and doubling down on what only she could do for the organization. Here’s how that played out:

 

Letting Go of Admin Overload 

For a long time, this CEO was drowning in paperwork. Financial reports, meeting attendance records, and member engagement details all landed on her desk. She felt like she had to stay on top of all the numbers to keep the organization stable. But once she moved these tasks off her plate and empowered her team to own the day-to-day financial side, a few things happened:

  • She had fewer interruptions overall.
  • She had fewer late-night “catch-up” sessions.
  • She had the bandwidth to focus on the strategic relationships and visionary work that aligned with her Zone of Genius – things only she could do for the organization.

 

Letting Go of Meeting Overload 

Once her team had clear roles and processes, she stopped being the default decision-maker in every room and limited her attendance to the meetings that actually needed her. The impact was immediate:

  • Fewer status update meetings and more time for strategic conversations.
  • More engaged team members who felt empowered to make decisions.
  • More time for high-impact work, like securing major donors and planning long-term growth

 

The Ripple Effect of Letting Go

Once she cleared her plate of the small stuff, she finally had the bandwidth to focus on the work that truly moved the needle – building relationships, securing strategic partnerships, and telling the organization’s story in a way that resonated with her mission. That’s when things started to click. The organization hit its biggest fundraising goals in years, and she got her time and sanity back.

 

Ready to Let Go? 

Here’s your challenge: 

  • What can you take off your plate today? 
  • What’s one task you’re clinging to that really belongs to someone else? 
  • What could you accomplish if you freed up even a few hours a week for real, high-impact work?

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready to work in your strengths, keep an eye out. I’ll be sharing more on how to do just that next month.

 

 

*Header image created with Canva.