How to stop swinging between “I’ll just do it myself” and “I’ll fire them all” — and lead with real ownership instead.
Listen on Apple Podcast | Listen on Spotify
Episode Overview
If you’ve ever thought, “It’s just easier if I do it myself,” or found yourself ready to “burn it all down” after one too many hand-holding moments—this episode is for you.
In this solo episode, Chanie Wilschanski exposes the false binary so many school leaders get trapped in: over-functioning or giving up entirely. Through real client stories, she unpacks how these extremes are both driven by the same craving for instant relief—and how true leadership means learning to live in the messy middle.
You’ll hear how one owner, “Sarah,” learned to hold her team accountable without lowering standards, what happens when you trade to-do lists for calendars, and why grace never means abandoning expectations.
This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders who are tired of doing it all, frustrated that delegation still feels heavy, and ready to build rhythms of ownership instead of cycles of exhaustion.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The real reason leaders oscillate between over-functioning and firing everyone
- Why to-do lists create comfort but calendars create clarity and accountability
- How to show grace without lowering your standards
- The difference between outsourcing and ownership
- Why “getting ahead” is often avoidance disguised as productivity
- How to right-size the load while keeping standards visible
Key Insights
- Comfort isn’t clarity. A private to-do list may feel safe—but a calendar makes priorities visible, reviewable, and real.
- Grace ≠ lowered standards. True grace adjusts the load, not the expectation.
- Instant relief leads to instability. Sustainable leadership requires tolerating discomfort while building systems and rhythms.
- Outsourcing is temporary relief; ownership is transformation.
Memorable Quotes
- “Comfort over clarity is not leadership—it’s avoidance.” – Chanie Wilschanski
- “Grace never means lowering the standard. You right-size the load while keeping the standard visible.” – Chanie Wilschanski
- “Outsourcing brings relief. Ownership builds leadership.” – Chanie Wilschanski
- “When you complain about doing something, it just means you need more reps.” – Chanie Wilschanski
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Why This Matters for School Leaders
- Helps leaders recognize and break the over-functioning vs. burnout cycle
- Teaches practical ways to build accountability without micromanaging
- Reinforces the connection between standards, systems, and sustainable leadership
- Empowers leaders to replace chaos with structure—and delegation with ownership
Resources & Next Steps
- Audit your leadership rhythms: Where are you over-functioning or lowering standards?
- Define your school’s standards—what’s visible, measurable, and consistent?
- Replace your team’s to-do lists with a shared calendar rhythm this week.
- Ready to delegate without burning out? Join Chanie’s Delegation Workshop to learn the exact scripts, standards, and systems that make it work:
👉 schools of excellence.com/delegation
About Chanie Wilschanski & Schools of Excellence
Chanie Wilschanski is the founder of Schools of Excellence and a sought-after mentor for early childhood and private school leaders. Her work is grounded in building operational systems, emotionally intelligent leadership, and sustainable rhythms for long-term success. Through her podcast, trainings, and membership program, Chanie helps private school and ECE leaders lead with confidence, build high-functioning teams, and step into their full leadership potential—without burnout or chaos.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another school leader ready to move beyond survival mode and into intentional, systems-driven leadership.
