“If you delegate tasks,
you create followers.
If you delegate authority,
you create leaders.”
Craig Groeschel
You are a leader of a team, business, nonprofit organization, or a family. Wherever you serve as a leader, practicing the art of delegating can have a significant impact for you and those you lead.
Delegate: To entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person
As a leader, do you… Rarely delegate? Sometimes delegate? Often delegate?
Reasons Why Leaders Choose not to Delegate
BURDEN: “The team already has enough work to do without me adding more to their plate.”
TIME: “It takes too much time to explain the work that needs to be done, I’ll just do it.”
CONTROL: “It feels too risky to delegate because then I don’t have control anymore.”
CONFIDENCE: “I am not confident in anyone else doing the work as good as it needs to be done.”
CREDIT: “I won’t get the credit for the work if I have someone else do it.”
When you think about delegating, which statements ring true for you?
Often when we think of delegating, we think of ourselves first. If I delegate (Task) to (Who) then I will have more time for (Other Task).
Delegating to benefit us is a good reason.
Delegating to benefit others is an equally good reason.
How Delegating Benefits Others
SKILLS: Delegating to others provides the opportunity for them to develop skills.
RESPONSIBILITY: Delegating provides a shared responsibility for success of the (company, nonprofit, goal, family).
TRUST: Delegating builds trust between you and the “delegatee”. This reciprocal trust goes two ways: you trust them and they trust you as a leader.
VALUE: Delegating allows the person to feel valued by and valuable to the organization.
Where to Start?
Small and Easy Tasks: If you have not been in the practice of delegating, a good place to start is with something that is relatively small, and easy to accomplish. Start with tasks that are low risk (avoid “the building’s on fire” risk level). If you have had trouble delegating in the past, delegating a series of smaller tasks will grow trust between you and the person you are delegating to.
Tasks that Deplete You: Some aspects of your job as a leader can be very draining and simply deplete your energy. Set aside some reflective time to make a list of those parts of your job that drain your energy.
Once your list is complete, Ask: “Which of the items on the list can I delegate?”
“Who would be best to delegate them to?”
“Who would benefit most from me delegating this task to them?” (consider Skills, Responsibility, Trust, Value)
“Which tasks free me up to do higher-level strategic thinking and leadership?”
Delegate Authority:
Not only is it important to delegate tasks, delegating authority is valuable in the development of the individual and the organization. Give people the power to make decisions that affect their area in the organization. This will allow them to directly experience the impact of a decision. They then can take ownership for re-evaluating decisions as well as feeling affirmed when decisions produce positive results.
Summary:
-Consider the art of delegating as a long-term strategy for your goals.
-Be strategic about what, who, how and why you delegate.
-Let those you lead share in both the success and struggles of the organization.
-They will trust and respect you as a leader and grow into leaders who will in turn earn
the trust and respect of those they lead.
Interested in coaching that will help you lead, achieve, and inspire? Contact Carol now for a complimentary 20-minute session.
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