What a Toddler Taught Me About Leadership and Letting Go (Yes, Really)

This week I was building towers out of blocks with my toddler. We were stacking with great excitement, colourful bricks, wonky edges and plenty of wobble. Every time something looked unstable, I jumped in to fix it. And after the third or fourth time, I realised… I wasn’t actually letting him build.
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I was leading the project. Not because he needed the help, but because I wanted the end result to be “right”.
Sound familiar?
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People need space to create
Whether you’re managing a team, organising an event or raising a child, the instinct to step in is real. But here’s the thing, people need room to try things their way. To make bold calls. To make small messes. Because that’s how we learn, grow and find better solutions.
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That playroom moment reminded me how often we do this at work too. We over-direct. We play it safe. We think it’s quicker to take over. But some of the best results we’ve ever seen, in events, activations and even everyday problem-solving, have come from letting others take the first step, even if it’s a bit wobbly.
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What this has to do with events and activations
At Floor Seventeen, our clients often come to us full of ideas. And that’s exactly how we like it. You don’t need to hand us a perfect brief. You just need the courage to start.
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Some clients know exactly what they want for their corporate event, year end function or brand activation. Others are still trying to piece it all together. Either way, we treat your initial idea as a starting point, not a script.
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Because we’ve learned that great event planning is not just about getting things “done”. It’s about helping you build something meaningful. And sometimes that means giving you the space to explore ideas, change your mind or see your event from a new angle.
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We do not believe in cookie cutter events. We’re not here to overrule your vision or rush you to the finish line. Instead, we walk beside you. Helping you shape the big picture while keeping the details grounded and achievable.
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That’s what makes the real difference in the event management industry in South Africa today. Not flashy gimmicks. Not just budget tracking. But collaborative thinking and flexibility.
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Leadership, whether as a parent, a manager or a planner, is not always about doing. It’s about guiding. Observing. Knowing when to lean in and when to step back.
So next time you feel the urge to take over, pause. The block tower might fall once or twice. But what gets rebuilt might just be stronger, more creative and more impressive than anything you could have done alone.
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If you’re ready to bring your next event, activation or celebration to life, we’d love to work with you, not just as planners, but as creative collaborators.
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Let’s build something memorable, together.