Leading Greats #172

They made VP. Nothing about the job changed.

Every morning by 8 a.m., the VP has already answered three messages that were never really theirs to answer. It has been this way since they were a director, back when the team was smaller and stepping in felt like leadership.

It worked. It is part of why they got promoted twice.

Three promotions later, that has not changed. The habit moved with them, attached now to a bigger title and a longer list of people it affects.

Their newest director has never closed a client call alone, only because the VP always answers first. That director has asked to lead client renewals on their own twice this year.

Both times, the VP stepped back in before the week was out. The team stopped asking after that.

Yesterday, before 8 a.m., the same kind of message came in. This time, the VP forwarded it to that director without answering it.

It stayed untouched by the VP for the rest of the day. The renewal closed on time anyway.

They almost took it back within the hour. They did not.

What got you promoted will not keep you successful. Not at this pace.

Responsibility that gets inherited early rarely gets renegotiated later. It just gets promoted along with the person, until a VP is still doing the job of the director they used to be.

A missed message at the manager level costs an afternoon. The same miss at VP level costs a client.

A VP who still handles director-level work is not being humble. They are deciding, without saying so, that the team cannot be trusted with the job they were hired to do.

Service stops being a choice the moment nobody questions why it is still yours to give. That rarely looks like weakness from the outside. It looks like dedication.

The people who report to a leader like this get very good at waiting. They do not get good at deciding.

That gap shows up the first time the VP is out sick or on a plane, and something breaks that nobody else was ever allowed to fix.

This week, find one task you still handle out of habit rather than necessity, and let the person whose job it actually is handle it instead.

If you are leading a team while still carrying work from a title you no longer hold, let's talk.

I have been there. I can help.

---

Book a 60 minute strategy call: https://calendly.com/ronniekinsey/60-minutes

---

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronniekinseymba

If you are NEW here, or SEEKING → This is HOW I CAN HELP YOU:

From decades of experience as a Leader and Executive Coach, Clients Hire Me for the following:

Structured High-Performance & Growth coaching packages tailored to your needs and goals + Retainer Agreements

Strategy Hour: gain clarity, work through strategy, or for a profile makeover to move forward rapidly

Growing your Brand | Product | Services [SCALE]

Stepping into Your NEXT Chapter or Pivot

Public Speaking | Keynotes

What do you need? Don’t see it here?

Reach out, and let’s clarify your targets together!

1:1 Strategy call LINK above and below.

If you enjoy reading Leading Greats - PLEASE share my newsletter:

I appreciate your help spreading the word.

Thank you for telling others to subscribe. It’s FREE.

Make 2026 your best year yet.

Enjoy July. How much time do you have to excel to be your best?

Don’t wait for someone to come save you. That’s not how it works.

If the life you are building does not yet match the one you are capable of, let's talk.

I have been there. I can help.

Apply to work with me: ronniekinsey.net

https://linkedin.com/in/ronniekinseymba/

Until next time - keep it great,

-Ronnie

Founder | CEO | Executive & Leadership Coach, MBA, PCC

Leader | Advisor | Speaker | Writer

Schedule a strategy call - let’s work together:

Click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/ronniekinsey/60-minutes

If you are looking for my infographics | PDFs - Get access here:

Thanks for reading and returning.

I’ll be sharing news about a book launch soon.

Your environment and your habits shape who you become.

Choose yours well.

Click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/ronniekinsey/60-minutes

Interested in a sponsor partnership - Custom Posts on LinkedIn for a broad audience reach?

REPLY here, on ronniekinsey.net, or on https://linkedin.com/in/ronniekinseymba/ 

Partner Disclosure: I may use affiliate links in my publications. I only recommend products that I use and appreciate. If you click them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my work and allows me to continue to provide valuable content. Thank YOU for your support!