There was a time when I regularly heard the term ‘pull your own weight.’ It was once used so frequently that although I instinctively knew what it meant, I never really took the time to think about its literal meaning. It’s a bit like the name of the pop group ‘The Beatles’, whoever thinks about its literal meaning and how corny it is? For business leaders and project managers, I believe ‘pulling your own weight’ is an important mantra. Not only referring to oneself: ‘Am I pulling my own weight?’ But also, to ask of one’s team members. (I don’t recommend saying it out loud, but to reflect on internally). I am sharing my thoughts on this because ‘pulling your own weight’ implies the question whether someone is contributing to the maximum of their natural abilities. This can be physical, mental, intellectual, and even behavioural. For example, a person who might not contribute much to a team in deliverables but is always there for everyone, emotionally lifting them, smoothing conflicts, and generally creating a positive atmosphere, can be considered as pulling their own weight. But, if they can play an additional role as well, then the question could still be applied to them. So, my tip is: ask yourself regularly: ‘am I pulling my own weight?’ Or even, ‘am I possibly pulling over my own weight and if this keeps up, will something break?’ And then lastly, ‘Are each of my team pulling their own weight, are they making the most of their natural abilities, could they do more? Or even, are they doing too much?’