--- title: Take the busy monkey off your back; the shift from doing to leading description: Take the busy monkey off your back; the shift from doing to leading image: https://donovanleadership.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/In%20a%20bright%20modern%20office%20space%20filled%20with%20natural%20light%20Dianne%20sits%20at%20a%20sleek%20wooden%20desk%20her%20expression%20a%20mix%20of%20determination%20and%20relief%20Surroun-1.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading#main-content) ![cropped-DON_LongRGB01](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-DON_LongRGB01.jpg?width=886&height=247&name=cropped-DON_LongRGB01.jpg) - [Home](https://donovanleadership.com/) - [Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/executive-coaching-transform-your-leadership-style-donovan-leadership) Show submenu for Coaching - [One on One Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/one-on-one-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/group-coaching) - [Blog](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [All Posts](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) - [Research](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/tag/research) - [Books](https://donovanleadership.com/books) - [About](https://donovanleadership.com/about) Show submenu for About - [Contact Us](https://donovanleadership.com/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://donovanleadership.com/) - [Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/executive-coaching-transform-your-leadership-style-donovan-leadership) Show submenu for Coaching - [One on One Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/one-on-one-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/group-coaching) - [Blog](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [All Posts](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) - [Research](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/tag/research) - [Books](https://donovanleadership.com/books) - [About](https://donovanleadership.com/about) Show submenu for About - [Contact Us](https://donovanleadership.com/contact) - [Influence Curve Quiz](https://influence-curve.lovable.app/) [Influence Curve Quiz](https://influence-curve.lovable.app/) Mar 9, 2023, 4:00:00 PM # Take the busy monkey off your back; the shift from doing to leading [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) Dianne was a prodigious doer. She accomplished more than most people. But it meant she was always running from back-to-back meetings/Zoom calls during the day; dealing with emails at night. Her young family also demanded her time, which meant she often felt over stretched. The prospect she could burn out confronted her if she continued at this pace. She knew she needed to shift from doing to leading if she was to scale her results. She could only achieve so much on her own. Although she was in a leadership role, she still found it easier to do things herself. It was hard to find good people, she lamented. But in her coaching program she had a lightbulb moment. She needed to take the busy monkey off her back by shifting her mindset from player to coach. Instead of solving problems herself, she now asked who the best person was to address each issue. Diane’s team stepped up and changed the game for their unit. She is now seen as an effective leader who can produce results through people. Her mindset shift from player to coach focused her on developing outstanding leaders. More leaders are making a similar transition to Diane’s, according to Bill George and Zach Clayton in the HBR Article, Successful Leaders Are Great Coaches. They say, ‘Just as great athletes seek out great coaches, the best people want to work for leaders who coach them to reach their full potential and who will help them become better coaches themselves.’ They outline five aspects of great coaching leaders. ✅ Care: Build Understanding and Trust ✅ Organize: Get People in Their Sweet Spot ✅ Align: Unite People Around a Common Vision and Purpose ✅ Challenge: Summon People’s Best ✅ Help: Solve Problems and Celebrate Success 🙋 What makes a great coach in your view? 🙋‍♀️ ## Related posts [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/The%20image%20portrays%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20with%20a%20group%20of%20diverse%20professionals%20gathered%20around%20a%20sleek%20conference%20table%20The%20atmosphere%20is%20colla-1.jpg?height=200&name=The%20image%20portrays%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20with%20a%20group%20of%20diverse%20professionals%20gathered%20around%20a%20sleek%20conference%20table%20The%20atmosphere%20is%20colla-1.jpg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-good-listening-is-much-more-than-being-silent-while-the-other-person-talks) ## [Why good listening is much more than being silent while the other person talks](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-good-listening-is-much-more-than-being-silent-while-the-other-person-talks) [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Mar 17, 2022, 3:00:00 PM When Dan took on his new role, he did not want to fall into the trap of communicating his vision... [Read more](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-good-listening-is-much-more-than-being-silent-while-the-other-person-talks) [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20sleek%20modern%20conference%20room%20bathed%20in%20soft%20ambient%20light%20A%20long%20polished%20wooden%20table%20occupies%20the%20center%20surrounded%20by%20ergonomic%20chairs%20At%20one%20end%20of%20the%20table%20a%20large%20screen%20displays%20the%20title%20Big%20Kahuna%20Leadership%20Survey%20with-1.jpeg?height=200&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20sleek%20modern%20conference%20room%20bathed%20in%20soft%20ambient%20light%20A%20long%20polished%20wooden%20table%20occupies%20the%20center%20surrounded%20by%20ergonomic%20chairs%20At%20one%20end%20of%20the%20table%20a%20large%20screen%20displays%20the%20title%20Big%20Kahuna%20Leadership%20Survey%20with-1.jpeg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/big-kahuna-leadership-survey-the-chief-information-security-officer-1) [Research](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/tag/research) ## [Big Kahuna Leadership Survey – The Chief Information Security Officer](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/big-kahuna-leadership-survey-the-chief-information-security-officer-1) [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Jul 2, 2018, 2:00:00 PM Brian Donovan at Donovan Leadership conducts a regular research program known as the Big Kahuna... [Read more](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/big-kahuna-leadership-survey-the-chief-information-security-officer-1) [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20office%20space%20bathed%20in%20the%20early%20morning%20light%20A%20long%20wooden%20conference%20table%20occupies%20the%20center%20surrounded%20by%20sleek%20ergo-1.jpg?height=200&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20office%20space%20bathed%20in%20the%20early%20morning%20light%20A%20long%20wooden%20conference%20table%20occupies%20the%20center%20surrounded%20by%20sleek%20ergo-1.jpg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-those-tough-conversations-are-best-for-everyone) ## [Why those tough conversations are best for everyone](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-those-tough-conversations-are-best-for-everyone) [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Jul 8, 2021, 2:00:00 PM Paul weeded out some non-performers in his organisation, and his team breathed a collective sigh of... 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