Be Kind To Future You: Decisions That Create Better Consequences (For Sole Traders + Team Leaders)

sophiedyertarot
May 16
4 min read

You know that feeling when past you didn’t send the follow-up, didn’t tighten the process, didn’t put the boundary in place… and present you is now dealing with the mess?

Now add the extra spice of leadership: you’re not just dealing with your workload, you’re dealing with the ripple effect on clients, colleagues, and the people who rely on you.

This is a gentle reminder (with a practical edge): be kind to future you. Not just with the platitude of 'take a bubble bath'. With decisions and actions that create better consequences.

Because business is a giant game of cause and effect. Not in a scary way, in a useful way.

Small actions compound (in both directions)

A single tweak to your enquiry process, your diary boundaries, or your pricing can change your next quarter.

And if you lead a team, the compounding effect is even louder:

one unclear expectation becomes five different interpretations
one wobbly process becomes “we’ll just do it our own way”
one avoided conversation becomes a morale issue (or a performance issue) later

The opposite is also true: one tiny leak you ignore can quietly cost you time, money, energy, and confidence.

So if you’ve been thinking “I should really sort that…” this is your nudge.

Neutral facts beat emotional spirals

When something isn’t working, it’s so easy to go straight to:

“Why is this so hard?”
“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
“Everyone else seems to have it figured out.”

But if you want to improve your business (streamline, simplify, make it more efficient), a better question is:

What is the system doing?

Systems don’t have feelings, they have outputs.

If the output is “people enquire then disappear,” that’s data.

If the output is “I’m always behind,” that’s data.

If the output is “my team keep missing the same thing,” that’s data.

No shame. Just information you can work with.

A leadership-friendly reframe (that also works for sole traders): instead of “Why won’t they just…?” try:

What did we assume was obvious that isn’t?
Where is the handover unclear?
What does “good” look like, and have we actually defined it?

Making amends is a business skill (not a moral failing)

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is admit:

“This has been messy.”
“I haven’t been consistent.”
“I’ve avoided that conversation / decision / boundary.”

And then… tidy it.

Not with guilt. With responsibility.

Making amends in business can look like:

clarifying scope (so you’re not doing surprise extra work)
tightening your client journey (so people don’t fall through the cracks)
sending the follow-up you’ve been putting off
updating your pricing or your diary boundaries
having the calm, grown-up conversation you’ve been dreading
resetting expectations with a team member (kindly, clearly, and early)

A quick “future-you” check-in (pick one)

What’s one thing we keep meaning to fix that is quietly costing time/money/energy?
If we keep going like this, what will the consequence be by the end of summer?
What would a fair boundary look like here (for me, for the team, and for the people we serve)?

If you can answer those honestly, you’ve got your next move.

3 future-you upgrades (choose one)

You don’t need a full business overhaul. Pick one upgrade that creates better consequences:

Plug a leak
Add one follow-up step to your enquiry journey.
Team version: add one “who owns this next?” step so leads don’t drift.
Tighten a boundary
Define what’s included (and what isn’t). Put it in writing. Repeat it kindly.
Team version: define what “done” looks like and what happens when it isn’t met.
Simplify delivery
Remove one unnecessary step from how you work. If it doesn’t improve the outcome, it’s optional.
Team version: remove one handover or approval step that slows everything down.

One clean decision. One real action.

Kitchen Table CEO half-day (East Midlands)

If you’d like a calm, structured space to step back, look at what’s actually happening (without the emotional fog), and make a plan your future self (and your team) will thank you for, you can book a Kitchen Table CEO half-day.

I’m based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and I work with business owners and leaders across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands (online and in-person depending on what you need).

Book a Kitchen Table CEO half-day https://tidycal.com/sophiedyerthinkingpartner/kitchentableceo

FAQ

Who is a Kitchen Table CEO half-day for?

Sole traders, directors and team leaders who need space to step back, get objective, and decide what to do next — with a practical plan, not a pep talk.

Is this a business coaching session?

It’s more like a strategy thinking partner session: supportive, structured, and focused on clarity, decisions and momentum (without judgement).

Do you work with teams as well as sole traders?

Yes. The same clarity skills apply whether you’re leading yourself or leading a team — the difference is the ripple effect.

Do you work in Loughborough and across the East Midlands?

Yes — I’m Loughborough-based and work across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands.