Most leaders and executives struggle to make the shift — the real shift — from top producer to top leader. And it costs them everything.
They don’t see the invisible change that’s required. They show up to their executive role the same way they showed up when they were earning it: head down, working hard, getting things done. What they don’t realize is that the very habits that got them to the top of their career will not get their organization to the top of its game. In fact, those habits will hold it back.
Here’s the hard truth: creating a great organization is a completely different skill set than producing great work. The sooner a leader accepts that, the sooner everything changes.
As an executive, your job is not to get things done.
It’s not about urgency. It’s not about accountability. It’s not about profitability. When leaders fixate on those things alone, they build organizations that chronically underperform. Not because they aren’t working hard — but because they’re working on the wrong things.
Imagine your entire organization is a mountain. At the base are the people doing the daily work — building the product, serving the customer, executing the mission. Their focus is immediate. Their vision covers what’s right in front of them, and that’s exactly as it should be.
As you climb higher, the vision expands. You see more. You understand more context. You hold more of the whole.
And at the peak? That’s where the executive belongs. From the peak, you have a 360-degree view of the entire organization. You see all sides, all dynamics, the full landscape — the strategy, the vision, the direction, and the future. That vantage point is not a luxury. It’s your most critical responsibility.
The problem is, most executives don’t stay at the peak.
They slide back down the mountain. They get pulled into the operations. They start solving problems three levels below their role. And the reason is painfully familiar to most leaders I coach. It’s a message they learned early on, “if you want it done right, you do it yourself.”
So they do. And they stay stuck — focused on what’s immediately in front of them, firefighting instead of leading, doing instead of elevating. Without clear strategic focus, there’s no prioritization. Without prioritization, the team scrambles. Without a leader at the peak, the whole organization drifts.
Peak leaders work on two things: strategy and culture.
On the strategy side, your job is to work on the initiatives that move the organization to a higher level — not the day-to-day tasks, but the decisions and directions that shape where you’re going. You delegate the operations. You hold the vision.
On the culture side, your job is to build an environment where people want to show up — where they’re proactive, aligned, and fully engaged. Where they understand how their role connects to the larger mission. Where they feel their work matters.
This is where most executives miss it. They know how to produce. They don’t yet know how to elevate. But the most powerful thing you will ever do as a leader is bring out the gifts and capabilities of the people around you. Help your team understand why their work matters. Connect them to the vision. Build an organization where people bring their whole heart to the game — and watch what happens.
Here’s a simple diagnostic. Look at your frontline. Are people working effectively and efficiently? Are error rates low? Is quality high? Is delivery on time? Is revenue where it needs to be?
If yes — you’re working on the right things.
If any of those are suffering, the issue almost certainly traces back to the top. Either the strategy isn’t clear, the communication isn’t flowing, or the culture isn’t aligned. Effective organizations aren’t built by people who work hard in isolation — they’re built by people who work together with shared purpose and mutual trust.
That’s the role of the executive.
If you’re questioning whether you’re truly working at the right level, pay attention. It makes all the difference. Develop the strategic clarity and relational skills needed to move your organizations forward — elevate leaders and teams across the board. Position yourself at the top of the mountain and know that your best days are still ahead.
Dr. Kevin Mays
Business Leadership Expert
