When you take on too much, you might think you are being dependable. A team player. What we need to realize however, that overcommitment is not just self-sacrifice, it is also space-taking. If you are always jumping in first, always saying yes, always trying to “save the day,” it leaves little room for others to step forward.
Overcommitment can quietly send a message: I do not trust anyone else to handle this. It can signal that you are the default, the fixer, the one in charge, even if you are not and even when that was not your intention. And the more others see you over-functioning, the more they may under-function in response.
Being reliable means knowing when to carry and when to pass the baton. It has never meant being the only one who shows up. It means recognizing that your constant presence might be crowding out other people’s chances to grow, lead or take responsibility in their own way.