Learning to Let Go: The Hardest Shift in Growing a Business

When I started Acadia Bay, I was the consultant, the project manager, the admin, and the CEO. For a while, that worked. Many of our early clients came to us because they knew me personally. They trusted me to solve their problems. Being involved in every customer call felt right. Necessary, even.

But as we grew, I started to feel the strain. I had built a capable, trusted team, yet I was still deeply embedded in every project. I wasn’t micromanaging, but I also didn’t know how to step away without feeling like I was risking the quality and relationships we’d worked so hard to build.

Trusting a Strong Team to Lead

The first thing I did was look honestly at what my team could take over. With some focused knowledge transfer and a willingness to let go, I gradually handed off most of my consulting and admin work. I still help troubleshoot the occasional sticky issue, but I’m not in the day-to-day anymore.

That shift freed me up to think bigger… but it didn’t solve everything.

The Hidden Work That Still Needed Support

There were still all the little details: the follow-ups, the scheduling, the check-ins. I wasn’t solving technical problems anymore, but I was still on far too many calls just making sure the work was moving forward.

That’s when I realized I didn’t need more time, I needed help. A dedicated employee who could give our clients the same level of care and consistency I always had.

Hiring for Mindset, Not Just Skill

This was the real leadership test: finding someone who communicates well, keeps things organized, and protects our client relationships with the same care I would.

Hiring for this kind of role is different than hiring for technical skill. It’s about:

• Mindset

• Temperament

• Values

• Understanding not just the what, but the why

  
  

Letting go is hard. But building something sustainable means knowing when it’s time, and trusting the people you’ve chosen to carry the work forward.

Now, I have time to focus on the next big objectives. And our clients are supported by more than just me.

Your Turn

When did you realize it was time to stop doing everything yourself?

What was the hardest thing to let go of?