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Ever found yourself drowning in tasks but wondering why you're not growing as a leader? You might be caught in what I call the "breadth trap" – mistaking busyness for advancement and spreading yourself too thin across responsibilities without developing true expertise.
After my conversation with Shannon King about broken organizational promises, I realized how many of us tie our worth to external validation like job titles or recognition. When these don't materialize as expected, we question our abilities rather than the flawed system. The truth? Your value isn't measured by how many hours you work or tasks you complete – it's about the depth of impact you create.
Leadership growth doesn't come from doing more; it comes from doing the right things with purpose and focus. When you operate in "breadth mode," you become known as a reliable doer rather than a strategic thinker. You might gain temporary recognition for handling everything, but you lose visibility for what truly matters and rob your team of growth opportunities. The alternative is developing depth – mastering specific areas where you create maximum impact and empowering others to share the load.
This episode challenges you to identify where you're currently operating in breadth mode: Which tasks are you doing merely to prove your worth? Where have you become the default person for execution when others could step up? Then define what depth would look like – what specific expertise do you want to be known for? Take one concrete action this week to shift from breadth to depth, from doing to developing.
Remember that leadership isn't about how many tasks you juggle but how deeply you grow into your strengths. When you choose clarity over confusion, honesty over empty promises, and balance over burnout, you show others what authentic leadership truly looks like. Share this episode with someone struggling with the breadth trap and join me next time as we continue exploring how to integrate who you are with how you lead.

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