Don’t Trust Your Memory

There’s a moment that hits almost every founder.

You realize your mind just can’t hold it all anymore.

You used to remember everything: client requests, the number from last month’s P&L, that action item from a meeting two weeks ago. You’d follow up, circle back, make it happen. It was all just… there.

But now? It’s slipping. Not because you don’t care. Because there’s just too much. And you’re still operating like you did when the company was smaller. When memory actually worked.

Hi, I’m James and you’re listening to the Leadership in 5 podcast where leadership meets execution, one focused episode at a time.

Here’s what I want to say clearly:

Don’t trust your memory. It will fail you.

The reality is, you’re not forgetful, but you are overloaded. You’re carrying too much, and you’re trying to hold it all in your head.

When that happens, you start to drift. And you might not notice it right away… but people around you do.

You repeat yourself.

You forget to follow up.

You leave someone waiting because you thought you said something but never actually did.

And the people who rely on you start to feel unsure.

This is when your own trust in your memory becomes an issue.

And then? It becomes a trust issue for your team.

Don’t miss this: when your follow-through becomes inconsistent, your credibility takes a hit.

This is one of the ways leaders break trust without meaning to. You think you’ve communicated something, or followed up on something, but you haven’t. And when it happens over and over again, people stop trusting your word. Even if your heart’s in the right place.

Here’s some real talk: authority isn’t about charisma. It’s about consistency. And if you want to be a trusted, consistent leader, you’ve got to stop relying on your brain as a to-do list.

Write it down. Put it on a calendar. Use a shared doc, a checklist, a whiteboard—anything that helps you keep your stuff together.

You don’t need a complicated tool. It just needs to be a repeatable, easy to access system.

Because when people know where to look, they stop chasing you for clarity.

And when your team stops chasing you, they can start executing.

So here’s the reflection:

Where are you relying on memory right now? What’s falling through the cracks because of it?

And, what’s one thing you could intentionally make more visible this week to help you – and your team – stay focused and productive?

Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be visible.

And that’s worth thinking about today.