The Weight of Leadership: Carrying It, Sharing It, and Letting it Go
Leadership is heavy.
Not just the responsibilities—the decisions, the strategy, the people relying on you. But also the invisible weight:
The pressure to always be strong.
The unspoken expectation that you should have the answers.
The internal struggle of caring deeply but needing to appear composed.
For many women in leadership, this weight is something we have carried for so long that we do not even realize how much it is costing us. We just keep pushing forward, handling it all, making it work. Because that is what strong leaders do, right?
But leadership is not just about carrying. It is also about sharing and, when necessary, letting go.
Carrying It: The Responsibility of Leadership
Some responsibilities are yours to bear. The hard calls, the vision-casting, the moments where you stand firm when no one else will. These are the responsibilities that come with leadership—the non-negotiables that define who you are and how you lead.
But here is where we get stuck: we assume we have to carry it all.
We take on what should belong to someone else. We hold onto tasks because “it is easier if I do it.” We absorb emotions, expectations, and obligations that were never ours to begin with.
And over time? The weight becomes overwhelming.
Sharing It: Leadership Is Not a Solo Sport
This is where so many leaders struggle—letting others help.
Delegation is not weakness. Asking for support is not incompetence. In fact, the strongest leaders invite others to carry the load with them.
This means:
Trusting your team to own their responsibilities.
Being honest about when you need support.
Letting people see you as human—not just as the leader who has it all together.
Your team does not need you to be a hero. They need you to be real.
Letting It Go: The Freedom of Releasing What Is Not Yours
Some responsibilities are not meant to be carried alone. Some expectations were never yours to meet. Some roles you have outgrown, but you are still holding onto them out of habit.
True leadership maturity comes in knowing what to release.
That guilt over saying no? Let it go.
The fear of disappointing others? Release it.
The belief that your worth is tied to your output? Walk away from it.
Because here is the truth: the best leaders are not the ones carrying the most weight. They are the ones who have learned what to carry, share, and let go.
How to Lighten Your Leadership Load
If you are feeling the weight of leadership, here are three practical steps to start carrying it differently:
Audit Your Load
Practice Delegation with Intention
Release the Guilt
Your Turn
What leadership responsibilities have you been carrying for too long?
What can you share with someone else?
What do you need to release, once and for all?
This week, challenge yourself to loosen your grip. Leadership is not about doing it all—it is about knowing what is truly yours to hold.
— Kristie Clayton
HERverse Founder
#HERthoughts
