Why Leaders Need Operational Support
By Heather Shafter
There’s a quiet trap that many mission-driven leaders fall into: trying to do everything themselves.
When you’re passionate about the work, it’s tempting to take on every task—strategic planning, team management, operations, hiring, client relationships. The problem? Burnout, bottlenecks, and missed opportunities become inevitable. The mission suffers not because of lack of effort, but because of lack of support.
One of the most powerful stories I return to often is from the March on Washington. We all know about Dr. King’s iconic speech. But fewer people know about Bayard Rustin, who coordinated the logistics—buses, permits, security, water, media, and food. No one builds something that powerful alone.
That’s where strategic operations come in. When someone else is building the scaffolding, you can focus on the vision. You don’t just move faster—you move with clarity.
If your day-to-day workload is burying your mission, it’s time to rethink the structure.
You don’t need to do less. You need better systems and support so you can do more of the right things.