“When we let go of our need for control, that is the first time we actually gain it.” – Bruce Schneider
The Dilemma
It was a cold brisk morning in the city of Lexford, and Ratman’s team of 4 was headed into the office slightly earlier than the boss himself to discuss an urgent issue running rampant in the city.
The crew filed into the old post office building- the current location of their open-floor plan workspace- and gathered around the massive projector screen that sits in front of Penny’s desk for intelligence purposes.
“Thank you all for being here so early,” Bobbin started. He had been Ratman’s right hand man since day one. As Ratman rose to fame in the last couple years becoming one of the most prominent crime-stoppers in the city, Bobbin was always the guy who watched Ratman’s back for both his safety and the team’s. Crime couldn’t be stopped without Bobbin’s awareness. “As you all know, Ratman has been a little off lately. In my professional opinion, he is making himself take on work in the office that he doesn’t really need to.”
Bobbin glanced around the room, waiting for confirmation. No one argued. Ratman had been pushing himself harder than ever, taking on press events, crime-solving, and even minor administrative work—things he had never micromanaged before.
Ratman sighed as he looked at his overflowing calendar. Another press conference. Another urgent call. His vision blurred for a second—was he exhausted, or just overworked?
If I don’t do it, who will? he thought, clenching his fists. He had spent years building this team, yet here he was, acting as if he had to carry the weight of the city alone.
Bobbin had seen it before—leaders drowning in responsibility, convinced they had to carry the burden alone. But even superheroes had their limits
Gotham wasn’t just protected by Batman alone—it thrived because of a network of allies, each bringing unique strengths to the table.
The team nodded in agreement. Ratman knew that a thriving team wasn’t about one person doing it all—it was about each person contributing in a way that maximized their strengths. Their office was an ecosystem, where energy flowed best when each member played their part.
Since the creation of this city-saving group, Ratman had made a point to introduce everyone to the concept of Core Energy. Measuring the Energy Levels of each employee allowed the boss to properly delegate tasks and understand how each individual could contribute with their strengths. When the synergy within the workspace flowed efficiently, each team member operated between a Level 5 and Level 6. This delegation of tasks created more space for Ratman to maintain a high energy level- which was crucial to generating his superpowers.
Dave, Ratman’s head of public relations, spoke up. “In the last two weeks, the boss has attended three city-wide press conferences without my knowledge- and one of those was a set-up by The Jokester to catch him off guard. I could’ve told Ratman that right away, but he didn’t consult me beforehand.”
“Thank you for sharing, Dave,” Bobbin continued. “Penny has pulled some stats for us to look at. We need to strategize how we are going to bring this up to the boss. Penny?” Using the oversized intelligence screen to present to the crew of 4, Penny first pulled up a page titled “Ratman’s Vitals.”
Not only was his superpower charge dangerously low, but according to Core Energy Levels, Ratman had been operating at a Level 3 in the last couple weeks, meaning his core thoughts had been revolving around responsibility. Considering the boss typically operates at a Level 6 energy- prioritizing synthesis and sharing wisdom with colleagues- the team started to realize that Ratman’s Core Energy vitals had been cut in half causing a string of poor decision making to the detriment of his group and powers.
Ratman’s fixation of taking on more tasks caused a sense of responsibility hoarding in the office.Ratman’s refusal to delegate was leading him down a familiar path—the same one Batman struggled with in The Dark Knight Rises. Bruce isolated himself, convinced he alone could bear the burden of protecting Gotham. But true leadership doesn’t come from doing everything yourself; it comes from empowering those around you. If Batman had never trusted John Blake, the city might not have had a future.
The team couldn’t perform their usual roles, because Ratman had insisted on taking over- whether he knew it or not. Hatwoman was receiving less calls for assistance, because Ratman had tried to take on all issues himself, and Bobbin often felt like an innocent bystander when accompanying his pal on a crime-stopping adventure due to the boss’s desire to do the heavy lifting. The crew needed to act fast before their head honcho- and the whole team- experienced serious, possibly crime-starting, burnout.
Performance Isn’t Just Personal- It’s Ecosystemic
For a job like Ratman’s, it’s easy to feel like one’s personal performance defines the success of the group. When Ratman’s role relies so heavily on the information and assistance of the allies around him, there is a sense of added pressure to perform perfectly so as to not waste the time and assistance of those who helped. This can lead to a desire to take on more responsibility crafting this mindset of: It’s all on me. It’s always on me.
This way of thinking only hinders the outcome of the mission.
Ratman’s personal need to maintain control over his performance and reputation started to overshadow the very real guidance and resources his team could provide. When this mindset starts to place roots in the workplace, the emphasis starts to be placed on maintaining control instead of empowering the team.
While performance can feel extremely personal, especially as the main point of contact for the team, the ecosystem of connections in a cohesive space is what truly creates a successful outcome. Ratman is skilled at confronting crime-starters, but he doesn’t have the background and experience to collect intentional data like Penny. Her ability to find crucial intel helps to free up Ratman’s time for more strategy-based brainstorming. Penny’s data-mining wasn’t just a side job—it was a critical force multiplier, just like Oracle’s intel for Batman.
Similarly, while the boss would love to experience the superpower of cloning to be in multiple places at once, that tool hasn’t hit the market yet. Good thing he has an even better secret weapon than the Clone-inator 3000– his colleague Hatwoman. She was more than capable of handling street-level threats while Ratman focused on strategy. When he loosens his grip on the reins and allows his allies to do what they do best, tasks are completed efficiently, crime is solved creatively, and the city gets to experience a peaceful day-to-day.
Even the Caped Crusader learned that Gotham thrived best when he embraced his allies. The Bat-Family—Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin—all played a role in expanding his impact. The same was true for Ratman’s team.
So feed your ecosystem. Allow your team to take on tasks that help them to grow. Your performance relies on your crew’s ability to creatively innovate and generate new ways to complete everyday duties. This might not mean that each person contains the same number of tasks- delegate efficiently to assign each member to a job they would thrive in.
Group projects aren’t meant to be equal work, but equal energy.
So find the tasks that might drain your creative energy, but come easily to another colleague. When each team member exerts the same amount of effort to a shared cause, innovation thrives.
2-Weeks Later at Ratman HQ:
Let’s revisit the crime-ridden city of Lexford. Using the Core Energy stats, the staff brought their concerns about Ratman’s well-being and the energy within the team to the boss’s attention. Ratman agreed, pointing out that he had started to take over each task despite the team’s extensive expertise and apologized for jeopardizing the synergy within the crew- as well as unintentionally challenging the trust he had in his allies.
The group set up weekly energy check-ins- sharing which tasks were draining their levels as well as how they could delegate certain activities to another staff member. Ratman started to share his responsibilities which helped other members to grow in experience and wisdom. Now sitting at a Level 6 Energy, helping to keep his superpowers at top charge, Ratman still finds it challenging to combat the need to control each aspect of the operation; however, with the help and trust of a supportive team, he has become more comfortable with asking for help.
In a true Dark Knight Rises moment, Ratman finally saw what his team had known all along—his strength wasn’t in shouldering everything alone, but in trusting his allies. Just as Bruce Wayne passed the torch to John Blake, Ratman let go of his need for control. He wasn’t stepping away from leadership; he was stepping into a more empowered version of it.
Sound familiar? Maybe your job doesn’t involve crime-fighting and villains with elaborate traps, but the feeling is the same. The pressure to handle everything—at work and at home—can be overwhelming. Like Ratman, you might be taking on more than necessary, not because you have to, but because you feel like you should.
But here’s the truth: when you take on too much, you don’t just burn yourself out—you limit the team around you. At work, this might mean overshadowing colleagues who could handle tasks more efficiently. At home, it might mean missing out on quality moments with your kids because your mind is stuck on the never-ending to-do list.
Energy Management at Work and Home
Just like Ratman, when a professional father takes on too many tasks in their typical day-to-day, their superpower charge starts to dwindle. Energy-eating tasks leave little to no room for family-based creativity and quality time. Finding ways to preserve your energy can be as simple as passing off a task at work to a team member who handles it more efficiently or setting aside your outfits for the work week to eliminate early-morning decision making.
If you’re feeling stretched thin—whether at work or home—take a step back. What tasks are draining your energy that someone else could handle? Where can you create space for creativity and connection?
The best leaders aren’t the ones who do it all. They’re the ones who know when to trust their team.
Your family and your team don’t need a lone vigilante—they need a visionary leader.
What about you?
Are you operating at your highest level, or are you caught in the cycle of overwork and energy drain? Core Energy Coaching helps you:
- Identify where your energy is being depleted at work and home
- Learn how to shift from exhaustion to empowerment
- Develop strategies to fuel sustainable high performance in both spaces
Your team, your family, and your well-being don’t need another overworked vigilante. They need a Visionary Leader who knows how to Manage Energy, Delegate and Empower others wisely, and Lead with impact.
Ready to step into your next level of leadership? Book a Core Energy Coaching session today and start leading with clarity, trust, and vitality.