pick one, not all
Written by Raj Suppiah | january 1, 2026 | Leadership
The biggest mistake we make in owner-operated professions such as ours is we mix up the three. Owners, Operational Managers and Leaders are all DIFFERENT JOBS. Some people have the capacity to be all three, but most are best suited for one.
A reality check
Here's a reality check - in most companies, the owners ARE NOT the leaders. As a company scales, at most times, there are competing interests between the managers, leaders and the owners. Leaders think. Managers do. Owners collect. A business built on trust and open communication can balance the needs of the three (this is the job of the leader, to unite all three on the vision and outcomes for the company).
Unfortunately, for a lot of us owners, we get thrust into management and leadership roles, for which we may not be ready for. And I understand, in low margins, small scale businesses, there are not enough people and financial resources available to separate each.
Another thing I've seen happen in our industry is we elevate people into management and leadership roles, even when the skill is not there. A great office administrator and a great clinician may not always make the best people manager. Think hard about that....
prepare for your growth
If you want to remain an owner - operator, remain that. Do not plan to grow a team which requires management and leadership finesse. If you want a large team, multiple clinics, you need to plan for where YOU want be with that growth. Prepare for it. You will need a mindset change.
Pick your hat
If you are planning to scale, think of the MAIN role you want to take with the company's growth.
- Do you want to be the face of your company, make difficult decisions and be the ultimate fall person if things fail? (the fish stinks from the head down)
- Do you want to enjoy the day to day, meet new people and motivate your team to achieve success?
- Or do you want to collect dividends, provide some input, infuse money and trust others to earn you a passive income?
Now you’re probably asking, I play all three, which one do I pick? The answer is simple. The role suited for you is the role that makes you the happiest. The role you wake up to attack every day. You may have to play with each role before you fully decide. You may want to find a mentor in each of those roles and learn from each. It is important that if you plan to scale, you start to accept giving away roles you used to do well.
Stephen Covey has a great quote:
”Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”