At our most recent Senior Leadership Roundtable for COOs, one topic sparked real debate: the transition from being the go-to problem solver to becoming a system builder.
It’s a challenge many senior leaders face, especially as businesses grow and complexity increases. Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion.
The Problem with Being the Problem-Solver
Many leaders rise through the ranks by being the one who can fix things fast. But at the top, that habit can quickly become a trap. If you continue to step in and solve problems directly, people will always come to you first, bypassing their own managers and teams.
It creates dependency, slows decision-making, and keeps you stuck in the weeds instead of focusing on the bigger picture.
The System-Builder Mindset
Great leaders know their real value lies not in fixing every issue themselves, but in building systems, processes, and structures that empower others to fix problems without them.
This can feel uncomfortable at first. New processes often introduce more steps, and leaders worry this will slow things down. But the reality? While each individual step might take longer, the end-to-end journey becomes faster and more effective. The business moves forward with clarity, resilience, and scalability.
Why This Matters for Senior Leaders
Shifting from problem-solver to system-builder is one of the most important transitions leaders can make. It frees up your time and energy to focus on strategy, growth, and culture, while empowering your teams to operate with confidence and autonomy.
Join the Conversation
This was just one of many powerful insights from our Senior Leadership Roundtable. At Maxwell Bond, we host these roundtables regularly, both virtually and in-person, for senior leaders across the UK, EU, and US in Tech, Sales, Operations, and TA/HR.
If you’d like to join the conversation and connect with peers facing similar challenges, reach out to Andy Holt to learn more about our upcoming sessions.
Get in touch with Andy today to reserve your place.
