Multiply your impact by developing people, not just delivering projects

A nonprofit program manager named Luis hit every deadline. He was the one people called when things got messy. It worked until it didn’t. The demand grew, and Luis found himself staying late, tapping on his keyboard while the office lights hummed. One night, he realized his fixes weren’t scaling because he was the fix. The next morning, he picked two people to invest in: Sam, a steady coordinator, and Priya, a bright new hire eager to learn.

He told them his plan. “I want to help you grow. Here’s a project I think you can lead, and I’ll be your safety net.” Sam took on redesigning the intake process. They set clear success criteria and weekly check‑ins. Priya shadowed community meetings, then ran parts of the agenda with Luis nearby. After each session, they sat in the hallway with paper cups of tea and asked two questions: What went well? What will you try differently next time?

Luis also shared micro‑resources. A one‑page checklist. A short video on facilitation. A template for debrief notes. By the end of the quarter, both had shipped real improvements. More importantly, they could teach others. Luis’s evenings were quieter. His impact had multiplied because the work now lived in more people.

The 70‑20‑10 model of development says that 70% of growth comes from stretch assignments, 20% from coaching and feedback, and 10% from formal learning. It’s supported by research on deliberate practice and feedback loops. People grow fastest when they do hard things with support and reflection. If you want to scale your impact, move from being indispensable to making others able. That’s leadership that outlasts your calendar.

Choose two people to develop and tell them directly you want to invest in their growth, then design one meaningful stretch task each with clear success criteria and weekly check‑ins. Set up guided practice by shadowing and co‑working on key moments, debrief with two questions, and share one specific resource tailored to the challenge at hand. Repeat the cycle for a quarter. You’ll see their confidence and capability grow, and your evenings get lighter. Start by naming your two people today.