The Role Reset: Defining Your Position in Your Micro Agency

Do you ever wonder, “What should I be doing as the owner of a micro agency?”

Initially, you’re doing it all—client work, admin, sales—but as your agency grows, that all-in role becomes less clear. Suddenly, you’re asking, “Am I focusing on the right things?” or holding onto work that no longer fits where your micro agency’s headed.

Your role as an owner should evolve, but that doesn’t mean giving up the work you love or following a rigid formula.

Today, we’re diving into the why and how of a role reset, helping you build a role that truly supports your micro agency’s growth and your vision for success. Let’s get started.

As a micro agency owner, your role will change over time, sometimes in uncomfortable or unsettling ways.

You’re probably doing it all in the early days—client work, admin, marketing, and everything else. But as your micro agency grows, so do the expectations of what you should be doing, and that’s when things can start to feel uncertain.

It’s not uncommon to wonder, “What should I be focusing on now?” or “Am I even doing the right things?”

There’s this sense that, as the agency owner, you should have a clear direction and know your role.

But the truth is, your role is a moving target. What the agency needs from you will shift as it grows, and those shifts can feel disorienting. 

Sometimes, you may find yourself holding onto tasks that no longer fit where the agency is going. Other times, you may feel pressured to step away from work you love, all in the name of “growth.”

It’s natural to feel uncertain when navigating a changing role, especially with all the mixed messages—from hustle culture to scale sharks—telling you what “success” should look like.

In this episode, I’ll share why your role needs to evolve and how to approach that evolution sustainably. I’ll help you identify what’s really important to focus on and how to reset your role as the agency grows so you can feel grounded and purposeful in what you do.

Evolving your role doesn’t mean giving up the work you love or following a formula that doesn’t fit. Instead, it’s about creating a role supporting your micro agency’s needs and your vision for success.

The Myth of the “CEO-Only” Role and the Hustle Culture Trap

Let’s start by breaking down these myths about running a successful micro agency.

First, the hustle culture myth says, “If you’re not doing it all, you’re not committed enough.” This approach glorifies wearing every hat, grinding away at all hours, and stretching yourself thin, all in the name of dedication.

Then there’s the opposite extreme, led by scale sharks who insist that real growth means stepping into a pure “CEO-only” role. They say that to scale, you must delegate everything—client work, project management, and operations—so you can focus only on high-level strategy and sales. 

The implication? If you’re still hands-on, you’re somehow limiting your agency’s potential.

In reality, the “do-it-all” mentality leads directly to burnout, while the “CEO-only” approach doesn’t work for everyone. 

Many micro agency owners find absolute satisfaction in certain aspects of hands-on work, and for many of us, giving that up would diminish what we love most about our business. 

Sustainable growth doesn’t require mimicking big agencies; it’s about defining a role that works for your agency’s size, goals, and mission. This role can include strategic and hands-on responsibilities complementing your strengths rather than adopting an all-or-nothing approach.

Signs It’s Time for a Role Reset

How do you know when to hit the reset button on your role? A few signs indicate when a role reset is overdue. 

First, feeling overextended is a classic sign. You’re likely stretched too thin if you constantly move from one responsibility to another with little breathing room. 

Another key indicator is bottlenecks. Are there tasks or decisions stalling because they’re waiting on you? This often happens when you’re too involved in every detail, creating delays when team members or clients consistently await your input.

Lastly, it’s time for a reset if you struggle to focus on high-impact work. When you’re bogged down in small tasks or constantly putting out fires, you’re not prioritizing the big moves that drive growth.

These are all signs that are reminders to evaluate your role to ensure it’s aligned with where the micro agency is now—and where you want it to go.

Redefining Your Role in a Sustainable Way

If you’re ready for a role reset, start with a complete assessment of your responsibilities. List everything you’re handling right now, from client work to administrative tasks, and don’t overlook the small stuff like answering emails.

It’s helpful to dig into your time-tracking data to get the most accurate sense of where your time is spent. If you’re already tracking your time, review it carefully.

Notice recurring tasks that consume more time than expected or feel like they’re weighing you down.

If you haven’t been tracking time, try doing so for a week or two before this assessment. Even a short tracking period can reveal surprising insights into what’s taking up your hours and what’s genuinely productive.

By listing all your responsibilities and analyzing your time, you’ll have a clearer idea of what’s essential in your role and where you can start to make strategic shifts.

This will help you redefine your role into being more focused, effective, and sustainable as your micro agency evolves.

Part of redefining your role as a micro agency owner means ensuring it supports your business and personal goals. For some, this might look like staying hands-on with certain clients or projects while letting go of smaller tasks. For others, it could mean gradually transitioning out of specific roles rather than doing it all at once.

Your goal shouldn’t be to fit someone else’s definition of success. It’s about creating a balanced role that leverages your strengths and allows you to work in a way that serves you and your micro agency.

If stepping away from specific work doesn’t resonate, redefine what that balance looks like so it’s meaningful.

Three Questions to Ask for Your Role Reset

Next, you’ll use the information you gathered to consider what aligns with your skills and your micro agency’s direction.

Identify your highest-value activities—the tasks that move the needle, like strategic planning, managing key client relationships, or business development. These areas likely deserve the most of your time and energy.

If you’re unsure what those are, ask, “What tasks or areas of the business am I uniquely qualified to handle?” This question helps you identify where your expertise shines and where you bring value that someone else can’t easily replace.

Another critical question is, “How can my time be best spent to create sustainable growth without burning out?” This means pinpointing tasks that drive results but also allowing for enough balance that you’re not constantly running on empty. 

Finally, ask, “Does my current role align with my vision for the agency?” We often follow what we think we ‘should’ be doing rather than check if our role truly supports our definition of success.

A role reset is the perfect opportunity to make sure you’re working toward a vision that’s meaningful to you, not just following what others say you should be doing.

Building a Flexible Role for the Future

As you evolve your role, remember that flexibility is critical. Your responsibilities will likely change as your micro agency grows or new projects emerge. Building flexibility into your role from the start means you can adapt without hitting a wall every few months.

One way to ensure this is by setting regular role check-ins. These could be quarterly or semi-annual, depending on your preference. During these check-ins, review your current tasks and ask if they align with your goals. This proactive approach keeps you from feeling overwhelmed or stuck in a role that no longer serves you.

Finally, remember to keep the big picture in mind. Your role isn’t just about what your micro agency needs but about what you want your life and career to look like.

You can design a role that supports both personal fulfillment and business growth. Incorporating this into your role reset process ensures you stay aligned with what truly matters to you.