Million Dollar Team Principle #9 – “Who Else Could Do This for Me?”
One of the most powerful questions a team leader can ask is:
Who else could do this for me?
And the follow-up:
If I had that time back, what could I do that is more useful to the business?
The Secret of a Serial Entrepreneur
A multi-millionaire once told me he could wake up tomorrow, pick any industry, and build it to seven figures in under a year.
How?
He mastered:
- Hiring
- Training
- Systems
- People management
But here’s what he said that changed everything for me:
“If someone can do it 80% as well as you, delegate it.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Top Producers and the Lie of Self-Importance
Many top producers are trapped in a lie:
“I’m the best. No one else can do what I do.”
But that belief?
It keeps you small, stuck, and stressed.
I know. I lived it.
The Day I Let Go
In my second year running a team, I was still working with buyers.
I was overloaded—and then Beth called.
An old client. She wanted to work with me again.
I took the call, but I was too busy to follow up consistently.
Eventually, Beth kindly let me know she was considering someone else.
She was right.
I was too busy.
The Turning Point
I delegated the client to Sue—one of our buyer agents.
I stayed involved behind the scenes, but Sue led the process.
She was maybe 80% as good as me. Maybe less.
But guess what?
Beth loved the experience.
Found the perfect home.
Gave rave reviews.
Sue eventually became a better buyer agent than I ever was.
Why We Don’t Delegate (And Why We Must)
Here are the 3 beliefs that keep team leaders stuck:
1. “No one can do it like me.”
You’re right—they won’t.
But with your guidance, they might do it better.
2. “I’ll lose the relationship.”
Get over yourself.
If your people and systems are excellent, your brand builds the relationship.
3. “Clients won’t be happy.”
They won’t—if you disappear.
But if you manage the handoff, clients will feel cared for by your entire team.
Peter Drucker said:
“Do what you do best, and delegate the rest.”
Delegation isn’t giving up control—it’s expanding your influence.
“The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.”
Delegation is Evolution
Beth is still a fan.
Even after Sue left the team, her goodwill stayed with our company.
That’s what happens when you build something bigger than yourself.
So next time you’re doing something that drains your time, joy, or potential, ask:
Who else could do this for me?
And what could I do instead that would move the business forward?
That’s leadership.
That’s freedom.
That’s scale.
Nick McLean
The Reside Platform – Where leaders go to scale their teams
