Valentine’s Day is all about appreciation and love.
So let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood ways leaders show they care.

They hold on.

They double-check.
They step in.
They carry a little extra so the team doesn’t feel pressure.

It looks like commitment.
It often feels like love and protection.

But over time, it quietly makes teams less confident.

Leadership Reframe
The most supportive leaders create conditions that allow others to lead.

Many leaders stay involved because they don’t want to let people fail, struggle, or feel exposed. The intention is good. The impact isn’t.

When leaders absorb responsibility under the guise of protecting their team, they unintentionally:

• Slow momentum
• Signal hesitation instead of trust
• Keep ownership fuzzy

Real support doesn’t come from carrying more.
It comes from clear responsibility and space to fully own outcomes.

Letting go isn’t disengagement.
It’s how teams grow strong enough not to need saving.

Notice This Week
Notice where care turns into control.

• Where do you step in “just to help”?
• Where might your involvement be easing discomfort — but preventing ownership?

You don’t need to stop caring.
You just need to stop carrying what you’re trying to release.

Here for the long game of letting go,
Emily Morgan