From Solo to Supported
Last month, I wrote about the importance of self-leadership. Once you’ve mastered that, the next challenge is clear: leading others.
But here’s the twist — this isn’t just for entrepreneurs. Even if you’re employed, leading with the mindset of an entrepreneur — what I call intrapreneurship — is one of the most powerful ways to stretch your influence and prepare for your next chapter. Think of it as rehearsal for your own business. The bonus? It gets you noticed by the boss.
The Problem Within the Problem
Too many women, whether running their own business or leading inside one, fall into the same trap: doing everything themselves.
- Entrepreneurs hire too late, hire without clarity, or cling to every task.
- Intrapreneurs carry every project, firefight endlessly, and never give their people real autonomy.
The result is the same: burnout and stalled growth.
The Invisible Work of Leadership
In Circle, we often talk about the invisible work — the mindset shifts, daily disciplines, and pauses that separate busy managers from true leaders.
- From Doer to Decider → your role is direction, not delivery.
- From Helper to Holder → stop rescuing; hold the vision.
- From Firefighter to Architect → stop reacting; build systems that prevent the fires.
This invisible work isn’t flashy. There’s no KPI for letting go. But without it, your team — and you — stay stuck in survival mode.
Founder’s Wisdom
When I scaled one of my companies to $30M in 24 months, it wasn’t hustle that made it possible — it was teams and systems. Later, when that business collapsed in a perfect storm, I learned another lesson: if you don’t build your team and culture with intention, pressure will expose every crack.
That’s why I’m passionate about teaching women not just how to lead themselves, but how to lead others — whether as entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs.
Intrapreneurship in Action
If you’re not ready to launch your own business, intrapreneurship is the best training ground.
It’s the practice of bringing entrepreneurial thinking into the business you don’t own — spotting opportunities, taking ownership, and leading with initiative.
Here’s what it looks like in practice:
- Treat projects as if they’re your own business.
- Anticipate problems and design solutions before they land on your boss’s desk.
- Create systems that save time for the whole team, not just yourself.
- Take ownership of results, not just tasks.
- Lead with initiative — step forward, don’t wait to be asked.
Why does it matter? Because intrapreneurship grows your leadership muscle and strengthens the organisation you’re part of. It prepares you for entrepreneurship, and yes, it gets you noticed. Leaders who think like owners are the ones organisations fight to keep.
Letting Go: The Hardest Shift of All
The most challenging part of team leadership — whether as an entrepreneur or intrapreneur — is letting go.
“A business that depends entirely on you isn’t freedom — it’s fatigue. True leadership is when your team carries the weight, and you carry the vision.”
We tell ourselves, “It’ll be faster if I just do it.” Or, “I can’t trust anyone else to get it right.” But here’s the truth: holding everything tightly doesn’t protect the quality of your work. It protects your exhaustion.
Delegation is not about dumping tasks. It’s about empowering others to rise into their own strengths. That’s leadership.
Managing vs Leading
Many women step into entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship thinking leadership is just management with more pressure. But here’s the difference:
- Management is about tasks, timelines, and transactions.
- Leadership is about vision, culture, and capacity.
Management keeps the engine running. Leadership ensures the vehicle is heading in the right direction — and that you’re not the only one driving.
Systems + People = Peace
The right systems and people aren’t cold or corporate. They’re acts of care.
- Team charters set clear expectations.
- Decision frameworks create autonomy.
- Delegation rituals protect your energy.
When women in Circle embrace this, the story is always the same: “I finally started sleeping again.”
Because when your team carries the weight, your mind can reFrom Survival to Shared Leadership
You didn’t step into leadership — inside a company or outside of one — to survive. You’re here to create vision, impact, and momentum.
Self-leadership is the first bridge. Team leadership is the second.
And intrapreneurship? It’s where both come alive.
The more you practice leading beyond yourself, the more prepared you’ll be for the moment you do step into entrepreneurship — with confidence that you already know how to build teams that thrive.
Joanne’s 5 Team-Leadership Signals
- Roles designed around strengths, not just gaps
- Decisions that don’t bottleneck at your desk
- Systems that hold people accountable — not your exhaustion
- A clear line between leadership and management
- A team that protects your peace as much as your profit
Whether you’re scaling your own business or leading within someone else’s, the path is the same: self-leadership first, team leadership next.
Because legacy isn’t built alone. It’s built in teams, in systems, in circles.
And if you’re not quite ready to launch your own business? Intrapreneurship is the best place to practice now.
