Why great product leaders say no (and average ones burn out)

Staring at a box of blue nitrile gloves in a doctor's office led the author to reflect on the importance of role specialization and delegation in various fields, including healthcare, sports, and workplace environments, such as product management. Highlighting the inefficiency and burnout that result when individuals take on too many roles, the text argues for the necessity of focus and delegation to maintain long-term organizational health and individual well-being. By drawing parallels between a doctor's need to focus on patient care, an athlete's structured training regimen, and a product manager's prioritization of tasks, the text emphasizes that effective leadership involves making strategic decisions about where to invest one's energy and when to say "no" to avoid becoming a bottleneck. It also stresses the need for recovery and reflection time to foster innovation and sustain high performance, positing that these practices build a resilient organizational culture capable of meeting future challenges.