Who Not How: The Delegation Mindset That Accelerates Business Growth
When I first picked up Who Not How by Dan Sullivan, I expected a few helpful tips on teamwork. What I didn’t expect was a complete shift in how I think about business, projects, and personal productivity. The central idea is simple yet powerful: instead of asking “How do I get this done?”, start asking “Who can help me achieve this?”
This shift moves you from a mindset of self-reliance (which often leads to burnout) to one of strategic collaboration. It’s about leveraging other people’s skills, experience, and passion so you can focus on your vision instead of getting bogged down in execution.
Why “Who” Beats “How”
1. It Frees Up Your Time for What Matters Most
If you’re constantly figuring out how to do everything, you’re not spending time on the activities that only you can do — like setting strategy, nurturing relationships, or refining your vision. By finding the right “Whos,” you can focus your energy on the areas where you bring the highest value.
2. It Brings in Specialized Expertise
Your “Who” may already know how to do something better, faster, and more efficiently than you could ever learn. This saves you the time (and often frustration) of trial and error.
3. It Creates Better Results
When people work in their zone of genius — the place where their skills and passions align — the quality of work skyrockets. Delegating to the right “Who” doesn’t just get the job done; it often produces better outcomes than if you tried to do it all yourself.
How to Apply the “Who Not How” Strategy
Step 1: Define Your Vision
Before you can bring in the right people, you need to clearly define what success looks like. Your “Who” needs to understand your end goal so they can take ownership of the process.
Step 2: Identify Your Gaps
List the tasks, roles, or areas where you’re not the expert — or where your time is better spent elsewhere. These are the areas where a “Who” can add immediate value.
Step 3: Delegate Authority, Not Just Tasks
When you hand something off, also hand over the decision-making power. This gives your “Who” the freedom to bring their best ideas to the table without constantly waiting for approval.
Step 4: Build Long-Term Relationships
The more you work with the same “Whos,” the more they understand your style, values, and vision — making them even more effective partners over time.
The Ripple Effect
Since adopting the “Who Not How” mindset, I’ve noticed more than just increased productivity. Projects move faster, creativity flows more freely, and my stress levels have dropped. Most importantly, my business has grown because I’m no longer the bottleneck.
When you stop asking “How do I do this?” and start asking “Who can do this with me or for me?”, you open the door to new possibilities, faster growth, and far less burnout.
