---
title: Trying to protect the team from the crazy
description: "Are you protecting your team by trying to do all the hard stuff?  You may be hurting more than helping.  Find out why in this week's #Failsume."
image: https://www.deannasingh.com/hubfs/female-leader-XJF966F.jpg
---

## [**FLYING ELEPHANT** • SOCIAL ENTERPRISE REIMAGINED](https://www.deannasingh.com/flying-elephant)

[![PH Logo 2020_1-1](https://www.deannasingh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/PH%20Logo%202020_1-1.png?width=394&name=PH%20Logo%202020_1-1.png "PH Logo 2020_1-1")](https://www.deannasingh.com/purposefulhustle)

- [**](https://www.facebook.com/deanna.singh.10)
- [**](https://www.instagram.com/Deannasingh1/)
- [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannasingh/)

# PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

#### INSPIRATION TO HELP YOU... LIVE WITH MORE PURPOSE

## Trying to protect the team from the crazy

Posted by [Deanna Singh](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/author/deanna-singh) | Feb 25, 2020 11:31:50 AM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

![](https://www.deannasingh.com/hubfs/female-leader-XJF966F.jpg)

Do you try to protect your team by taking on all of the hard stuff yourself? If so, you are doing yourself and your team a disservice. They need to see the dragons too! How do I know? I have done it too!

### helping my team thrive

I am the type of manager that likes to see my team thrive. I love watching people do the things that they love and I often find that I get really protective of them.  I want them to be able to stay focused on what they are doing and so I put myself out as a buffer.  

I try to protect them from the other, non-essential, and distracting that that are going on around us.  I go to the trash meetings, I deal with the people who act inappropriately, I take on the hard conversations, and make the hard calls. 

### protecting my team from the crazy was fine but... 

At the beginning this was just fine, because I could see how it was in the short term benefiting my team, but it came to bite me pretty quick because it meant:

- They had an unrealistic view of what was being done behind the scenes.
- I carried all the stress by myself which was not helpful.
- I had no protected time to do my own work. 

### your responsibility as a leader

As a leader, you are going to shoulder many things the rest of your team will not. You are not, however, responsible for creating a fairy tale for them. 

**You should let them see the dragons, **

**You should talk to them about the things that are hard.**

**You should let them help you, the same way that you help them.**

Being real with your team in this way, will actually deepen your relationship and help you stay more sane. → Both great outcomes! 

**Are you sharing the dragons in your work, or are you letting the fire consume you?**

 

THE FAILSUME

![Deanna Singh failsume v2](https://www.deannasingh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Deanna%20Singh%20failsume%20v2.png?width=464&name=Deanna%20Singh%20failsume%20v2.png)

 

 Topics: [Skills](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/skills), [Life](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/life), [Initiative](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/initiative), [leadership](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/leadership), [personal development](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/personal-development)

#### Written by [Deanna Singh](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/author/deanna-singh)

Deanna Singh is a business consultant, speaker, and podcaster who is internationally recognized for her work in leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Deanna helps her clients create more equitable and inclusive work environments and engage more authentically within their internal and external communities. A gifted communicator, she is a champion for marginalized communities through her work. Her podcast, Uplifting Impact with a focus on looking at the intersection of Leadership and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, focuses on solutions and is directed at people who want to break the status quo. Singh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Fordham University, a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University.

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/deanna.singh.10) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannasingh/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Deannasingh1)

## Leave a Comment

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/ace106e9-867f-409b-9358-90afda0935c6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/ace106e9-867f-409b-9358-90afda0935c6)

### Subscribe

[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/3a412362-812f-4863-a465-58590b6aaf90.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/3a412362-812f-4863-a465-58590b6aaf90)

[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/b000eabe-0ed2-4716-a962-2e9ecfa6dfe6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/b000eabe-0ed2-4716-a962-2e9ecfa6dfe6)

[![Actions Speak Louder | Uplifting Impact ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/6567bb08-c3ec-4777-86ba-e68becbfdf7d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/6567bb08-c3ec-4777-86ba-e68becbfdf7d)

[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/f6ea4b4e-a3f9-4ac1-9698-0d69a8876082.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/f6ea4b4e-a3f9-4ac1-9698-0d69a8876082)

[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3800673/ced44fc4-a39c-41d7-bc2f-7aa99f3f7617.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3800673/ced44fc4-a39c-41d7-bc2f-7aa99f3f7617)

### Recent Posts

### Topics

- [Accessibility (2)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/accessibility)
- [allyship (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/allyship)
- [Announcements (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/announcements)
- [Authenticity (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/authenticity)
- [Bias (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/bias)
- [Business (26)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/business)
- [Career (32)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/career)
- [Children (5)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/children)
- [Committee (5)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/committee)
- [Communication (10)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/communication)
- [Compassion (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/compassion)
- [Continuous Education (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/continuous-education)
- [Courage (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/courage)
- [Culture (7)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/culture)
- [DEI Consultant (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/dei-consultant)
- [disability (2)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/disability)
- [Diversity (19)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/diversity)
- [Employee (10)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/employee)
- [Entrepreneur (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/entrepreneur)
- [Equity (6)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/equity)
- [Event Planning (9)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/event-planning)
- [exercise (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/exercise)
- [Failure (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/failure)
- [Family (7)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/family)
- [Fear (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/fear)
- [Friends (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/friends)
- [Fun (2)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/fun)
- [goals (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/goals)
- [gratitude (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/gratitude)
- [Hiring (7)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/hiring)
- [HR (9)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/hr)
- [Hustle (20)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/hustle)
- [Impact (24)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/impact)
- [Inclusion (16)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/inclusion)
- [Initiative (45)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/initiative)
- [leadership (46)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/leadership)
- [Life (68)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/life)
- [meeting (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/meeting)
- [mental health (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/mental-health)
- [metrics (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/metrics)
- [Money (6)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/money)
- [Motivation (15)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/motivation)
- [Networking (13)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/networking)
- [Passion (22)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/passion)
- [personal development (53)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/personal-development)
- [Plan (32)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/plan)
- [productivity (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/productivity)
- [Purpose (55)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/purpose)
- [Race (6)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/race)
- [Reflection (14)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/reflection)
- [relationships (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/relationships)
- [Resources (5)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/resources)
- [retention (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/retention)
- [Self-Care (14)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/self-care)
- [Side-Hustle (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/side-hustle)
- [Skills (59)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/skills)
- [Small Business (3)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/small-business)
- [Social Change (15)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/social-change)
- [Soft Skills (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/soft-skills)
- [Speaker (6)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/speaker)
- [Startup (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/startup)
- [Teamwork (4)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/teamwork)
- [time management (10)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/time-management)
- [trust (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/trust)
- [underrepresented (1)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/underrepresented)
- [Wisdom (23)](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/tag/wisdom)

[see all](https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/trying-to-protect-the-team-from-crazy#)

X

#### About Flying Elephant

The elephant is a symbol for power, dignity, intelligence, peace and good fortune. They are majestic creatures.  At Flying Elephant, that is the same way we think about your ideas. Through dynamic presentations;  inspirational storytelling; and sharing practical tools, our goal is to take your most ambitious ideas and help you put wings on them! 

#### Contact us

Flying Elephant, LLC  
Phone: (631) 533-2662  
E-Mail: info@deannasingh.com

### Keep Up With Deanna

© 2025 Flying Elephant, LLC All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy

**

![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=3856324&fmt=gif)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Deanna Singh",
    "url" : "https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/author/deanna-singh"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2020-02-25T17:31:50.274Z",
  "datePublished" : "2020-02-25T17:31:50.000Z",
  "headline" : "Trying to protect the team from the crazy",
  "image" : [ "https://www.deannasingh.com/hubfs/female-leader-XJF966F.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.deannasingh.com/blog/trying-to-protect-the-team-from-crazy",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.deannasingh.com/hubfs/2023%20Uplifting%20Impact%20Logo%20(60%20%C3%97%2060%20px).png"
    },
    "name" : "Flying Elephant"
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "VideoObject",
  "contentUrl" : "https://3800673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/3800673/Feb%20vlog%20%234%20for%20FB%20and%20Web.mp4",
  "dateModified" : "2022-04-26T21:59:42.031Z",
  "duration" : "PT2M17S",
  "height" : 1080,
  "name" : "Feb vlog #4 for FB and Web",
  "thumbnailUrl" : "https://api-na1.hubapi.com/filemanager/api/v3/files/thumbnail-redirect/26323585648?portalId=3800673&size=medium",
  "uploadDate" : "2020-02-25T17:27:56.484Z",
  "width" : 1920
}
```