Am I a funnel or a bucket? The question every leader should ask themselves.

I can't get a simple phrase that I heard yesterday out of my head: “Be a funnel, not a bucket.”

It immediately resonated with me as a leadership principle we don’t talk about enough in corporate life. Buckets hold. Funnels channel. It's easy to become a "bucket" leader, holding tightly to opportunities, information, and exposure. Whether out of habit, fear, or the mistaken belief that protecting knowledge protects value, this mindset stifles growth...not only for the team, but ultimately for the organization.

The best leaders are funnels. They create pathways for opportunities to flow through them to others. They empower their people to own high-visibility projects, present to leadership, engage with clients, and take the stage they’ve earned. They share credit, not hoard it.

This isn’t just generosity, it’s strategy. When you trust your team to shine, they grow in confidence, capability, and exposure. Their success becomes your success. You build a bench of capable leaders ready for the next challenge.

Start your week the same way I did by asking yourself the following:

• Are you a bucket, or a funnel?

• Are you guiding, coaching, and clearing roadblocks?

• Are you creating platforms for others to showcase their talents?

• Are you multiplying opportunity or containing it?

The legacy of a great leader is not what they accomplish alone, but what they enable others to achieve.