252. When Your Business Outgrows Your Old Habits

The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork

In this debrief episode, Adrienne and Emily reflect on their conversation with Danielle Hendon — and break down what it actually looks like to loosen your grip without watching the whole business unravel.

They share their own experiences stepping back from day-to-day decisions, the tools that helped them build trust with their team, and how to adapt leadership as both your business and personal needs evolve.

Here's what we cover: ✅ Why delegation problems are usually communication problems ✅ How to use red/yellow/green light language with your team ✅ The difference between being helpful and being a bottleneck ✅ Why updating your user manual is a team-wide act of service ✅ What to do when your identity and values shift — and your business hasn't caught up yet

This is a vulnerable, honest conversation about seasons of leadership, how to create shared language with your team, and what freedom really looks like when you've built a business that runs without you.

Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Shared Language is Liberation – Tools like "red/yellow/green" keep communication clear and expectations realistic.

2. Update Your User Manual – You're allowed to change. But if your team doesn't know that, they'll keep working from outdated rules.

3. Vision + Values Still Need Repetition – You can't just say it once. Culture needs constant reinforcement.

4. Let Your Team Own the Outcome – Not just the tasks.

5. You're Not Lazy — You're Leading Differently – And that's the whole point.

⏰ Chapters:

00:56 – Reflecting on Danielle's challenge 02:05 – What bottlenecks look like at different stages 04:18 – Shared language: the red/yellow/green light tool 08:00 – How to train clients and protect your team's boundaries 11:45 – When your internal values shift and your systems don't 14:30 – Rebuilding your work rhythm to support your brain + energy 17:30 – Voice notes > Zoom calls? The tools that work now 21:00 – You're allowed to do it your way

Want to Clockwork your own business, too?: www.runlikeclockwork.comAdrienne's IGRLC IG