The Art of Delegation

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Delegation, often considered a cornerstone of leadership, can be an unexpectedly challenging skill for many leaders to master.

This week’s LLR will delve into the complexities of delegation and why it can be so hard to learn. We'll explore the reasons why, offer actionable advice for improving your delegation skills and share a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that puts it all in perspective.

In this week’s newsletter, we’ll cover:

• 📝 Article: The Art of Delegation

• 💡 Tip: A Step-by-Step Guide to Enhance Your Delegation Skills

• 💬 Quote: Theodore Roosevelt on Delegation

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📝 The Art of Delegation

Most leaders realize they can’t do everything, yet still struggle with this important aspect of leadership.

Why do so many leaders find it difficult to let go?

The Fear of Losing Control

Most leaders climbed the ladder thanks to their own high levels of performance.

To give someone else a task you think you could do better is hard to do.

If the work isn’t done as well, or there is a problem, as the leader you are still responsible. It’s difficult to accept this risk willingly.

This fear can cause leaders to micromanage or avoid delegation completely, stifling their team’s growth and productivity.

The Need for Perfection

Another barrier is the pursuit of perfection. Some leaders were once strong performers of the task themselves and don’t think the team can do the work as well.

This belief can lead to leaders keeping too much work for themselves, resulting in stress, burnout and lower productivity.

This also hampers the development of team members as they don’t get to learn from new challenges.

Lack of Trust in the Team

For delegation to work, you have to trust your team. If you don’t believe they can get the work done, it is difficult to delegate tasks.

This lack of trust may be based on past experience or the leader thinking they are the only one capable of performing certain tasks.

Team members will be able to sense this lack of trust, and it will impact the work environment.

Inadequate Communication Skills

To delegate effectively, you need to be able to communicate the expectations and goals clearly.

Unfortunately, some leaders are not effective communicators which makes delegation even more difficult.

Even if they manage to delegate, if they communicate poorly, it can lead to confusion, frustration, and ultimately the failure to complete tasks.

Not Understanding the Importance of Delegation

Other leaders may not realize how important delegation is and how much it is holding back the team.

They might see delegation as a sign of weakness or that the tasks are so important that only they should handle them.

If they do manage to delegate tasks that are seen as less important, the team is not given a chance to grow and will resent being seen as not worthy of the important work.

Lack of Delegation Skills Training

A factor that is easy to overlook is that delegation is a skill that must be learned.

If a leader didn’t have a good mentor or never received training, they may simply be unaware of the best practices for effective delegation.

You can’t do something you don’t know about.

💡 Tip: A Step-by-Step Guide to Enhance Your Delegation Skills

Now that we've explored the reasons behind the struggles leaders face with delegation let's focus on actionable advice to help you enhance your delegation skills.

1. Recognize the importance of delegation

You will not get better at delegation if you don’t see the value in it or understand its direct impact on your team's success.

Delegation will free up your time and empower your team, leading to higher productivity, greater skill development, and a happier team.

2. Develop trust in your team

It’s easier to hand over control if you have trust in your team.

You can build trust by getting to know your team member’s strengths, weaknesses, and individual work styles.

Encourage open communication and create an environment where team members aren’t afraid to share their thoughts and ideas.

Trusting your team will make it easier to delegate tasks confidently.

3. Set clear expectations

When delegating tasks, clearly communicate your expectations regarding the desired outcome, deadline, and any specific guidelines or requirements.

This clarity will help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that your team members understand what is expected of them.

4. Match tasks with the right team members

Try to assign tasks based on people’s skills, experience, and interests where possible.

This will not only ensure that the task is completed efficiently but also give opportunities to team members to learn and develop new skills.

5. Provide support and resources

Make sure your team members have the necessary resources and support to complete the delegated tasks.

Offer guidance and assistance when needed, but avoid micromanaging. Encourage your team to take ownership of the tasks and make decisions independently.

6. Monitor progress and offer feedback

Check-in with your team members periodically to monitor their progress and provide constructive feedback. Celebrate successes and offer guidance for improvement when necessary.

This will help your team members feel supported and motivated to continue performing well.

7. Learn from the experience

Reflect on your delegation experiences and identify areas for improvement. Continuously work on improving your delegation skills by learning from your mistakes and successes.

No one is perfect, but by paying attention, your communication and delegation skills will improve.

BONUS: Delegate authority, not tasks

If you have been having success delegating tasks, your team might be ready for the next step by giving them ownership of certain tasks or areas.

When you delegate authority, the benefits include:

• Igniting creativity - people thrive when they have control.

• Streamlining work - fewer bottlenecks mean more efficiency.

• Cultivating trust - show your team that you have faith in their abilities.

• Growing leaders - delegation is a stepping stone to leadership."

Summary

There is no easy path to getting better at delegation other than through experience. As you delegate, objectively reflect on how you communicate tasks and the end results. Over time you will find a style that suits you and your team.

By trusting your team, you will be a more effective leader, and your team’s results will speak for themselves.

💬 Quote: Theodore Roosevelt

This quote from Theodore Roosevelt perfectly encapsulates the essence of effective delegation, although today I would replace the word “men” with “people”.

As a leader, your role is to select the right people for the job and trust them to accomplish the task without having to micromanage them.

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