Subtract to Lead Better: Letting Go Is a Leadership Skill

In “I’ve Coached Hundreds of Leaders. The Same Dangerous Mindset Keeps Them Failing,” Marcel Schwantes argues that many leaders remain stuck—not because they lack tools, but because they hold on to unhelpful beliefs. The path forward he proposes isn’t about acquiring more skills, but about subtracting the habits, fears, and assumptions that block clarity and impact.

The central insight: You lead best by giving up what doesn’t serve.

What to subtract and why:

• Subtract the Illusion of Control - Believing you must have all the answers stifles others, and weakens trust. Real leadership comes from empowering delegation, trust, and shared ownership.

• Subtract Ego-Driven Leadership - Ego breeds defensiveness and blinds you to feedback. Replacing it with humility opens space for learning—from any direction.

• Subtract Fear of Vulnerability - When you hide your struggles, people hide theirs. Vulnerability builds trust, encourages openness, and strengthens collaboration.

• Subtract Unnecessary Complexity - Excess bureaucracy, micromanagement, tangled processes slow momentum. Simplify goals, clarify roles, eliminate red tape.

• Subtract Short-Term Thinking - Chasing quarterly wins at the expense of long-term health undercuts sustainability. A wise leader balances now with what will last.

• Subtract Fear-Based Leadership - Leading through intimidation or anxiety fosters compliance—not commitment. Instead, cultivate psychological safety where innovation and candor can flourish.

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Why this matters for leaders

Leadership isn’t about adding more layers, more tactics, more strategies. It’s often about subtraction: letting go of illusions, guardedness, and outdated habits. The more you subtract what doesn’t serve, the clearer your vision becomes and the more space you give others to grow.

When you free yourself from ego and fear, you lead from a grounded place of humility. This has been my experience as a leader also. When you simplify rather than complicate, you empower teams to move with clarity and confidence. In letting go of the need for control, you invite collective ownership and resilience.

Leaders who master the art of subtraction aren’t leaving things behind—they’re making room for something far greater.

For your further reflection

• Which one of the “subtracts” (control, ego, vulnerability, complexity, short‑term, fear) feels most alive (and intrusive) in your leadership today?

• What small practice could you begin this week to subtract that habit (for example, asking for feedback, delegating one decision)?

• Imagine leading a team free from that burden. What difference would that make—emotionally, relationally, in results?

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Read the full article on Inc.