The Leadership Pause: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Studio and Take Back Your Time
The Leadership Pause: A One-Second Habit That Frees You to Lead
By Jackie Murphy, host
If you’re running a studio that’s growing (or trying to), you’ve probably noticed a pattern: the busier everything gets, the more everyone checks in with you. A teacher needs a sub. A VA is learning a new task. A manager wants pricing approved. You want to be supportive, but the result leaves you unsupported: you become the bottleneck.
That’s where the leadership pause comes in.
What is the leadership pause?
It’s a micro-habit: a breath between a team member asking for a decision and you immediately stepping in. In that one second you intentionally choose how to respond so you build capacity instead of dependence.
Why it matters
When you answer first, you train your team to rely on you. Meetings multiply. Decisions stall. Your inbox fills. When you pause, you create space for others to think, choose, and act. Empowered teams move faster, take initiative, and feel ownership — and that’s what growth needs.
Three practical ways to use the pause
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Ask first — don’t answer first.
Instead of “I’ll find a sub,” ask, “Who do you think would be best to cover this class?” You teach critical thinking and make the next step theirs. -
Replace approval with ownership.
Tell your team, “Unless I say otherwise, you’re empowered to make the call.” Shift the default from “wait for yes” to “act, then report.” When my team executes without waiting, it frees up time and creates momentum. That’s the result you want. -
Default to execute.
Build a rule: “Act unless asked to pause.” This reduces small delays into minutes of forward motion and signals trust. It’s okay if some decisions aren’t exactly how you’d do them — that’s part of learning.
Scripts you can use today
- Teacher wants a sub: “Who do you think would be best for your class? Can you reach out to them and confirm?”
- VA missed a task: “Tell me your plan to get this done. If it doesn’t improve by [date], we’ll map next steps.”
- When asked for a decision: “What would you recommend? I want to hear your plan.”
Don’t abandon your team overnight
The pause isn’t cold-shouldering. Start small. Use one pause a day, coach as needed, and provide clear training and job descriptions. Too little delegation is micromanaging; too much too fast feels like abandonment. Find the rhythm that builds trust.
This week’s challenge
Practice one leadership pause this week. When a team member asks for a decision, ask them what they would do — then let them act. Track one decision that would have taken you 30+ minutes and see how much time you reclaim.
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