A while back, I worked with a brilliant healthcare practice owner.
She had a full-time receptionist, several clinicians, and an admin assistant.
On paper, she had support.
In practice? She was still the one answering client WhatsApps at night, checking on invoices, and chasing after overdue clinical notes.

Sound familiar?

She said to me:

It’s a question I hear all the time. And here’s the tough-love answer:

The Invisible Line

Most business owners think they’re delegating.

But what they’re really doing is assigning tasks like:

• “Send the newsletter”
• “Upload the file”
• “Call the supplier”

Instead, effective leaders assign outcomes.

✅ “Make sure our next newsletter gets a 25% open rate.”
✅ “Ensure all the clients deliverables are tested and uploaded by Friday.”
✅ “Confirm the supplier delivery is on time and within budget.”

Outcomes create ownership.
Tasks create dependency.

A Quick Test:

Ask your team this week:

If they hesitate or guess, it’s a sign they’re waiting for you to define everything. That’s not empowerment. That’s micromanagement disguised as leadership (and its exhausting for you and demotivating for them).

Try This:

Pick one team member who needs to take more ownership.
This week, give them a project with clear outcomes and a deadline—but let them figure out the “how.”

Then book a check-in to review their approach. Coach, don’t control. They might surprise you.

Let me be clear here - clarity in terms of communicating what success looks like is essential. If you have not created the systems and processes (like a product catalogue, pricing sheets, report templates, corporate identity guidelines or standard checks to be performed on a report...) then you are setting your employee up for failure and yourself for frustration.

Coming Up Next Week:

In the next week's Blog email, I’ll break down the actual business metrics I track with my clients—not just revenue, but the numbers that show whether your business is built for freedom or stress.

Till then, have some fun being the coach and not every single member of the team.

Regards

Anne Gray

PS. When you are ready, here are a few ways we can work together:

1. Join The Leaders' Library – our fast-growing, free online community for business owners and leaders who want powerful group coaching, high-value networking, and real accountability – without the high price tag. Over 300 members are already in. Click here to join us now ​
2. Need help growing or scaling your business? I offer coaching and consulting for small to medium business owners who are ready to solve the problems holding them back. Don’t let another month pass without a clear growth plan. Book a call or check out my services here ​
3. Are you a Health Care Practice Owner? Our flagship course, Grow Your Healthcare Practice, gives you the essential business skills they never taught you in varsity – and it’s been transforming practices across South Africa. The next intake fills up fast. Click here to get on the early access list ​