Are you guiding your team’s direction, or controlling every step they take? Many leaders unknowingly slip into “snow plough leadership” — clearing every obstacle and dictating every move, rather than empowering their teams to find their own path.
The Cost of Over-Control
James was holding on tight, guiding every step of his team’s work. As our coaching session began, he recognised that he’d become the parent on the piste — showing his team how to snow plough every inch of snow, instead of letting them carve their own tracks.
Following a period of significant turmoil, the company was pursuing ambitious new growth goals. James, a tenured VP of Finance, vividly described the mental swirl he’d been carrying: new office openings, financial systems, and a flood of projects that had all landed in his remit. In trying to keep everything under control, he’d unintentionally assumed responsibility for tasks his team could own. He thought he was “protecting them.”
James was exhausted. On average, just 5% of his time was focused on longer-term strategy — far from where he needed his focus to be. His team felt the ripple effect: tired, wired, and waiting for him to step back. When he reflected on the pattern he’d fallen into, the snow plough metaphor hit him hard. He could see the tracks he was forcing them to follow, but he also saw he had a choice.
The Courageous Conversations
The first courageous conversation started internally. I asked James: “What are you willing to let go of because you could trust and empower someone else to do it their way?”
He sat in silence, weighing up the risks. Could he really trust someone else to carve their own lines? After a deep sigh, he named two key areas — a small but brave first step towards reclaiming his time and empowering his team.
Next, he needed to clear the slope and make space for two leaders to step up. This started with validating their interest in taking ownership before empowering them to set their own direction. This wasn’t just delegation; it was creating space for them to step fully into operational leadership.
The Impact of Letting Go
Now, those leaders are carving their own tracks. They’re more engaged, taking initiative, and leading their teams with confidence. James has space to focus on strategic finance priorities — guiding from the side of the slope rather than forcing them to follow his snow plough.
The team is moving faster, and he’s finally operating at the level where he’s most needed. James estimates that this intentional leadership shift has saved him about 20% of his time, moving from snow ploughing to ski guiding.
Signs You’re Snow Ploughing
Helping leaders identify where to let go is at the heart of many courageous conversations, and it can transform not just their time, but their team’s energy and engagement.
Ask yourself:
- Are you making decisions that your team could own?
- Do team members wait for your approval on routine tasks?
- Is most of your time spent on operational details rather than strategy?
- Does your team seem disengaged or overly dependent on your direction?
Your Next Step
Where are you still ploughing every inch of the way for your team, when perhaps a small shift could empower them to carve more of their own path?
The first step is always the hardest — but it’s also where new possibilities can begin.
