Who Says I Can’t?
Welcome to another Toolkit Tuesday! Every week, our goal is to give you a practical leadership tool to put in your toolkit.
So There I Was . . .
So there I was, sitting in a mastermind session, listening to someone walk through why they weren’t posting on social media. They had ideas, they had content, they had even recorded a few things already, but nothing had gone out yet.
I asked a simple question, “What’s holding you back?” They said, “I just want it to be better first. I don’t think it’s ready.”
I’ve heard that answer a lot, so we slowed it down a bit. I asked, “What does ready actually mean? What would happen if you posted it today? Who told you it has to be perfect?” You could see it start to shift. Not all at once, but enough to realize there wasn’t a clear answer.
No one had told them. There wasn’t a rule. There wasn’t a real consequence they could point to. It had just become the standard in their own head.
So we made it simple. Before the day was over, they had to pull out their phone, record a quick 20 second video and post it. No editing, no overthinking, just action.
And just like that, the thing that had been holding them back wasn’t “they” anymore. It was them all along.
The Challenge
Most of the obstacles we run into fall into one of two categories, inhibitions or prohibitions.
Inhibitions are the limits we place on ourselves. Fear, assumptions, overthinking, perfectionism. They feel real, but they are self-imposed.
Prohibitions are limits placed on us by something outside of our control. Policies, authority, lack of resources, or real constraints that need to be navigated.
The problem is we confuse the two all the time.
We treat inhibitions like prohibitions. We assume something is off limits without ever testing it. We say “they won’t let us” without ever defining who “they” actually are.
And just like that, we stop ourselves before anything or anyone else has the chance to.
The Tool: Who Says I Can't?
When you feel stuck, don’t accept the limitation right away. Diagnose it.
Ask: Who says I can’t?
If you can’t name a real person or policy, it’s likely an inhibition
If it is real, identify it as a barrier, hurdle, or gap
If it’s a barrier, you may need to go around it. If it’s a hurdle, you can work to overcome it. If it’s a gap, find someone with the skill, authority, or influence to help.
The goal is simple. Get clear on what’s actually in your way so you can respond the right way.
Why This Matters Now
We are operating in environments that reward speed, clarity, and initiative. But many leaders are slowing themselves down before they ever start.
Not because they lack ability, but because they are waiting on permission that was never required.
Every time you treat an inhibition like a prohibition, you lose momentum. You delay action. You reinforce a belief that isn’t true.
Over time, that becomes your operating system.
The Result
If you start asking “Who says I can’t?” you begin to take back control.
You move faster. You test ideas. You create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
You also become a better leader because you help others see the difference. You challenge assumptions. You remove invisible barriers. You create movement where there used to be hesitation.
If you don’t, nothing dramatic happens at first. Things just stall.
Ideas stay ideas. Potential stays potential. And over time, that quiet hesitation turns into a pattern.
Take Action
Today, identify one thing you’ve been putting off because it’s “not ready” or you assume it won’t be allowed. Ask yourself, who actually says you can’t? Then take one step forward before the day ends.
If you want help identifying where you or your team are holding back and how to break through it, let’s set up a time to talk.
Closing the Loop
That person in the mastermind didn’t need better content. They didn’t need more time. They needed to challenge the assumption that was holding them back.
Once they did, the action was immediate.
The next time you find yourself saying “I can’t,” pause and ask one simple question.
Who says?
