Shift from tasks to true leadership through strategic influence

When Alex was promoted from top salesperson to sales manager, he thought leadership meant running more reports and attending extra meetings. Within weeks he was overwhelmed picking up deals, crafting proposals, and supervising his former peers. His team felt stifled; Alex was always stuck behind his desk. One day, a mentor asked him, “Have you measured your influence today?” That question shook Alex awake.

He listed his five biggest tasks: compiling weekly forecasts, handling client escalations, writing proposals, training new reps, and updating the CRM. He realized only two of those had high leverage: coaching reps and building relationships with key clients. The rest he could teach or hand off. So he scheduled a one-hour workshop to train a star rep on CRM updates and delegated proposal writing to a junior colleague. Within a week he reclaimed eight hours to spend with his team and top clients.

The result? His team’s win rate jumped 15 percent and morale soared. That two-hour shift from “I do” to “we do” multiplied his impact. His boss noticed Alex’s strategic influence and soon involved him in regional planning. Alex discovered that leadership isn’t just doing more; it’s doing the right things at the right level and empowering others to rise with you.

This simple mapping exercise—from producer to leader—transformed Alex’s role and ignited his team’s performance. By moving tasks that others could handle and focusing on high-impact leadership, you can shift your energy from fire-fighting to future-building.

Start by mapping out your five busiest tasks—yes, every last email and form. Then rate each by its multiplier effect on your team’s goals. Pick one routine task you can delegate at 80% quality—teach a teammate in a short session and free up two hours a week. Block that time for leadership—coach, strategize, or network. That small shift from plugging in to powering up will transform your role and your team’s results.