98: From Doing It All to Leading It All W/ Atiba de Souza

Most entrepreneurs don’t start out wanting to be leaders — they start because they’re great at something. Then one day, they wake up managing chaos and wondering why things keep breaking down.

In this episode, Sean sits down with Atiba De Souza, CEO Strategist, Author of The Delegation Trap, and long-time agency owner. Atiba shares his hard-earned lessons on leadership, accountability, and what it really takes to build a team that thrives without you.

They dive into:

• The leadership failure that changed Atiba’s life — and how his 5-year-old son called it out.
• Why most leaders mistake “doing more” for “leading better.”
• The CASE Method — a four-question framework that transforms delegation and team development.
• How to shift from judging questions to learner questions to unlock growth and trust.
• The illusion of the “one more thing” mindset that traps so many entrepreneurs.
• Why small business owners, not politicians, hold the real power to change the world.

This episode is packed with frameworks, humility, and wisdom for any business owner or leader ready to grow beyond the grind.

🎧 Listen now on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166090

📘 Connect with Atiba De Souza:

• Website: https://www.atibadesouza.com
  
  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atibadesouza
  
  
• Book: The Delegation Trap
  
  

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Why entrepreneurs struggle with leadership
• 03:50 – The leadership wake-up call from Atiba’s son
• 07:30 – Would your team follow you if you didn’t pay them?
• 13:00 – A CEO only does three things: people, numbers, and culture
• 18:00 – The power of asking learner questions
• 22:00 – The CASE Method for better delegation
• 32:20 – Escaping the “one more thing” trap
• 40:25 – How small business owners truly change the world

Guest Bio

Atiba De Souza is a CEO Strategist and Author of The Delegation Trap. With over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, he’s helped countless business owners build systems and teams that perform without constant oversight. Known for transforming chaos into clarity, Atiba teaches leaders how to delegate effectively, build culture, and empower people to perform at their best.

👉 Follow Atiba’s work at https://www.atibadesouza.com

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.