I’ve seen multiple organizations unintentionally hinder their own growth. A high-performance culture pushes some to succeed—while pushing others straight to burnout. In the race to rise to the top, there’s a hidden danger lurking behind success: the ‘go-to’ person. The one everyone calls when something needs to get done.
And that’s a problem.
The world is unpredictable.
In many cases, the go-to person has built a self-imposed barrier around themselves. They know the people, the inner workings of the organization, and how to drive results. These individuals are valuable—but they are also a major risk.
When critical knowledge is concentrated in one person, the organization becomes fragile. It fosters singular thinking, ego-based decision-making, and, ultimately, a scenario where the entire operation can crumble overnight.
People leave. They get injured. Life happens. And when your go-to person is suddenly gone… so is the institutional knowledge they carried.
Often, these individuals have a long-standing reputation. They’re in every key meeting, always working alone, constantly rushing to the next task. And because they’re relied upon so heavily, we overuse them. We turn to them for every answer. We build around them instead of beyond them.
But here’s the hard truth: no single person should be the foundation of your organization’s success.
If you recognize these individuals in your workplace, it’s time to shift your focus. Instead of relying on a single ‘go-to’ person, start developing the next generation of leaders. Build a team. A collective of capable individuals who can insulate your organization from the unpredictability of life.
Because the reality is, we are all just one bad day away from retirement, an illness, or a new opportunity. As a leader, your job is to future-proof your organization.
If you’re a leader, take a hard look at your team. Imagine your organization without each key player. If losing one person would completely derail a project or cripple a department, you have work to do.
Organizations don’t thrive when they depend on one go-to person. They thrive when they have many.
We are all just one bad day away from an unexpected transition—whether that’s retirement, a new job, or a personal crisis. It’s your responsibility to future-proof your organization by ensuring no single person is irreplaceable.
Spread the knowledge. Develop your people. Strengthen the whole.
Because the best way to build a resilient organization isn’t by finding the go-to person. It’s by creating a go-to team.