Sustainable Leadership Systems: When the Spring Snaps

Yesterday our house shook.

There was a crack so loud we thought a tree had fallen on the house.

It wasn’t a tree. It was the torsion spring on our garage door snapping. If you’ve never heard it, it sounds like a gunshot.

Torsion springs hold an incredible amount of stored tension. They are literally wound tighter and tighter so they can lift the weight of the door every time it opens.

Our door is heavy. Wood and glass. Beautiful, but demanding.

The technician explained that the springs installed when the door was built were not really designed for the weight they had been asked to carry.

Over time the stress built up. Eventually the integrity gave way.

Snap.

And when the spring failed, the door couldn’t open. We were literally trapped inside our garage.

As we waited for the repair to be completed, I couldn’t help thinking about how often the same thing happens in organizations.

People get placed into roles or systems that weren’t designed for the weight being put on them. At first they stretch. They compensate. They carry more than they should.

Until eventually something gives.

And when it does, progress stops. Teams stall. People feel stuck. Organizations wonder why the door won’t open anymore.

The problem usually isn’t the people.

The system wasn’t built for the load.

Leadership isn’t just about pushing performance. It’s about making sure the springs, the systems, and the support behind the work are strong enough to carry the weight.

Because when the tension gets too high, even the strongest springs eventually snap.

A question I’m sitting with this morning: Where in our organizations are the springs carrying more tension than they were ever designed to hold?

Because the real question isn’t if they’ll snap. It’s when… and how the people and the business will feel it when they do.

If you found this blog post helpful, please share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any comments, please share them below.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin is passionate about helping people and organizations understand and foster belonging. Drawing on both personal experience and professional expertise, he helps leaders design cultures and experiences where individuals, teams, and communities can thrive and feel they truly belong.