Today's post is an article written by ProContractor Supply CEO Abhi Singh, and published on HBSDealer. We encourage you to check out the article on the HBSDealer website, in addition to reading it here.
I’ve worked with a lot of leaders over the years in construction supply, LBM, distribution, staffing, and every other corner of this industry. Different companies, different personalities, different stages of growth — yet one pattern shows up so consistently that I can usually spot it before I even step out of the car: most leaders think they’re the glue holding everything together… but in reality, they’re the fly trap everything sticks to.
They believe they’re the stabilizer, the protector, the heartbeat of the business. But what they’ve actually built — usually without meaning to — is a system where nothing moves unless it crosses their desk first. And the result is predictable: the company slows, the team disengages, and the business becomes completely dependent on the one person who’s too overwhelmed to notice.
I’ve walked into companies where the leader handles every pricing decision, every credit approval, every vendor call, every purchasing move, every customer issue, every hiring decision, every dotted line and every dotted i. Not because the team was incapable, but because the leader didn’t trust them to be capable. Sometimes it comes from past burns. Sometimes from pride. Sometimes from fear of letting go. But most of the time… it’s ego disguised as responsibility. And I say that without judgment — I say it because I’ve seen the impact up close, over and over again… and because early in my career, I was that guy.
You can feel this dynamic the second you walk in. Employees wait instead of act. Managers escalate instead of decide. Everyone hesitates because the leader “needs to be in the loop.” And the entire company moves at the pace of the leader’s attention span… energy level… or availability. I’ve watched businesses lose momentum for no other reason than the leader being on vacation, in meetings, or tied up with “I’ll just do it myself” tasks. When everything lands on your desk, the business eventually becomes a reflection of your limitations… not your potential.
After seeing this for years, I’ve boiled the root cause down to two things: trust and ego. Either the leader never built a team they trust… or they never trusted the team they built. And ego plays a bigger role than most people admit. It feels good to be needed. It feels safe to be involved in every detail. It feels important when the business runs “through you.” But the more you touch, the less your team grows. And the more they rely on you, the less your company can scale.
The strongest companies I’ve worked with — the ones that actually grow — have leaders who eventually say, “I brought in people who are stronger than me in the seats they own… and the business runs faster when I stop trying to do their job.” And then they back that mindset with action. They build leaders instead of followers. They clarify expectations instead of hovering. They allow people to make decisions and own the outcomes. They focus on direction, culture, performance, and talent… not every transaction.
Those leaders are the glue — steady, supportive, aligned with the mission.
Not sticky.
Not slowing everything down.
Not catching every issue like a fly trap and holding it hostage.
I’ve seen businesses accelerate almost overnight once the leader steps out of the middle. Decisions happen faster. Managers actually lead. High performers grow. Customers get answers sooner. The company gains momentum. And the leader finally breathes. Ironically, the moment leaders stop trying to control everything… is the moment the business finally becomes controllable.
So if everything still comes across your desk, it’s worth asking: is it really because the team can’t handle it? Or because you won’t let them? Is the business not ready — or are you not ready to let it run without you hovering over every move? Are you the glue holding things together… or the fly trap slowing everything down?
If you want a business that thrives… a team that excels… and a contagious culture that breeds success, you have to let go of the belief that you’re the only one who can do things “right.” You’re not just leading people — you’re teaching them how to lead without you. And that only happens when you stop catching every problem… and start empowering solutions.
Because in this industry, the companies that win aren’t the ones with the busiest leaders ….
They’re the ones with leaders who finally let go.
-Abhi Singh
