"If a doctor ran the front desk, took vitals, performed X-rays, handled referrals, dealt with insurance, and did the paperwork, they'd only have time to see a few patients each day. They wouldn't have time to advance their craft, and they certainly wouldn't do their best work. Instead, a doctor's office organizes work so the doctor can focus on patient care. Delegating tasks doesn't mean the doctor avoids other responsibilities. It means the organization depends on the doctor to apply their expertise where it matters most."
"The same principle applies in sports. When teams face gaps in their offensive or defensive lines, they do not ask the quarterback to fill them. A quarterback cannot play wide receiver, kicker, tight end, and defensive lineman while also reading the field and executing key plays. In the workplace, many people ignore this principle. High performers step in wherever gaps appear. Over time, this behavior creates exhaustion, bottlenecks, and teams that struggle to scale."
"As a product manager, you can fall into this pattern without realizing it. You might respond to every issue and absorb work that lacks a clear owner. This causes you to start to equate being busy with being effective. Good leadership comes down to judgment, not coverage. You have to choose what deserves your attention and what doesn't. When PMs avoid making those calls, they take on too much, slow their teams down, and sacrifice long-term progress for short-term relief."
Organizations increase effectiveness by structuring work so specialists can focus on their highest-value activities rather than routine tasks. Delegation preserves expert time for skill development and complex problem-solving, preventing exhaustion and bottlenecks that arise when high performers cover gaps. Sports analogies show that expecting core players to fill every role undermines overall performance. Product managers who absorb unowned work risk equating busyness with impact, slowing teams and sacrificing long-term progress. Leadership requires judgment to decide what deserves attention and what should be delegated, building organizational focus as a muscle that enables scaling and sustained improvement.
Read at LogRocket Blog
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