Adopting a Leader First Mindset
By Lachlan Nicolson - Small Business Coach.
Over the last five years coaching small business owners, one thing has stood out among those who are realising their business goals and dreams.
The difference between the businesses that run smoothly and keep growing, and those that stay chaotic and dependent on the owner, isn’t more hours, the perfect product, AI, or extra talent. It’s a mindset.
We’ve observed two types of business owners:
1) The Owner-Operator (Specialist)
An owner who always has their head down, sleeves rolled up, trying to do it all. They work harder and harder each year, but often end up exhausted, stuck in the day-to-day, and unsure how to step back. They may hire team members, but still remain the bottleneck to every decision. As a result, the business growth and potential is limited and frustration runs high within the team.
2) The Owner-Leader
An owner who's realised they can no longer be the 'chief of everything' and have decided to treat leadership as their new profession and focus. With the help of others, they create space to focus on guiding the business, building systems, and empowering others — which allows the business to grow beyond them and have a bigger, lasting impact.
Do either of these sound familiar to you?
Over time, this difference becomes dramatic. One is trapped carrying the weight alone. The other is free to lead with clarity and confidence. Both begin with a mindset, but manifest into very different outcomes.
We’ve seen this contrast so often that we gave it a name: the Leader First Mindset. It's our new focus for Coaching here at Leader Guide.
What changes when you lead first
When you adopt a Leader First Mindset, the shift is like moving from a player on the field to a Coach of a winning team.
As a player, you’re chasing every ball and trying to cover the field with your team. It feels busy, but it’s exhausting. As a Coach, you step back, see the bigger picture, set the game plan, and help each member of your team play at their best.
It’s well known that you can't win alone, you need a team. But without a Coach, teams can’t win championships. In other words: for your business to fulfil its true potential, it needs more than an owner—it needs a leader.
| Owner-Operator Mindset | Leader First Mindset |
|---|---|
| Solves every problem | Develops others to solve problems |
| Stuck in day-to-day | Steps back to design the business |
| Reacts to issues | Sets direction and leads strategy |
| Wears all the hats | Builds a capable team and systems |
| Feels constantly overwhelmed | Focused energy on priorities |
| Seeks control | Builds trust, empowers others |
A Leader First mindset doesn’t mean stepping back from your business, but stepping up to guide it. As John Maxwell puts it:
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
But here’s the catch: you can’t show the way if you’re buried in the day-to-day. When you’re stuck putting out fires and chasing every task, your vision stays narrow. Leadership requires lifting your eyes to see the bigger picture, and helping others walk the path forward.
How to start making the shift
When we talk with business owners about this, they usually nod and say, “Yes, I get it. This makes total sense.” But the next question is always “how do I actually do it?”
Understanding the idea of Leader First is easy. Living it out day to day, with all the nuance and complexity of real business challenges, is much harder.
That’s why Coaching is so powerful, and the key to making the shift. One-on-one Coaching is how we help small business owners put this mindset into practice, in the daily decisions, priorities, and conversations that shape their business.
Coaching gives you the space and guidance to:
• Step back from the grind and see the bigger picture
• Build systems that free you up to lead, not just do
• Grow in confidence as you make bold decisions
• Develop your team so the business thrives without relying on you
When you lean into leadership, it transforms your entire business. Vision becomes clearer. Confidence rises. The team steps up. Momentum builds. You can finally take your business to where you want it be.
At Leader Guide, our mission is to help business owners lead with clarity, grow with confidence, and enjoy their business. Adopting a Leader First Mindset is the first turning point in that journey.
