Who gets called whenever work breaks or stalls?
Leadership video
If Your Business Depends on One Person, You Have a Problem
Find the work that stops when one person is away, then choose the first system and backup owner to build.
1. Watch2. Write3. Act
YouTube asking you to sign in? Watch directly on YouTube
After watching
Reduce one dependency this week
- Name the dependency
List the tasks, decisions and fixes that only one person can handle today.
- Test the risk
Finish this sentence: “If this person were away tomorrow, the business would stop or slow down because...”
- Build the first backup
Document the steps, train a second person and set a date to test whether they can complete the work without rescue.
Write before continuing
Three questions for your business
Use the answers to choose the first responsibility that should no longer depend on one person.
What would stop if that person were unavailable for one week?
Which responsibility could be documented and taught first?
Helpful resources
Continue from dependency to capability
Related lessonWhy Great Business Tools Still Fail
Connect systems to the people who must use them and own the result.
Open lessonLeadership Execution SystemCapability and standards toolsSee the manager, employee and progress resources in the Leadership Execution System.
Explore the contentsLeadership CollectionChoose the next leadership needStart with the problem in front of you and follow the most relevant route.
Explore the CollectionKeep watching
