Mastering Delegation: Empower Your Team or Limit Your Future?

Congratulations on your new role! Stepping into a leadership position is a significant accomplishment, a testament to your skills and dedication.

As you GROW INTO YOUR LEADERSHIP SHOES - you will need to learn the art of delegation.

Yet the fear of entrusting tasks to your team can be paralysing.

This can lead to a paradoxical situation where leaders, out of concern for control, end up stifling their growth and that of their teams.

Understanding your Perspective

It's only natural to fear delegation. In your more junior roles, you will have been a hands-on contributor. You may well be an expert, having honed your skills, perfected your craft and now find yourself in charge. The thought of handing over tasks can be nerve-wracking. Will their quality meet your standards? Can you trust your team to execute effectively? Doubts about losing control and even your relevance may creep in.

Empathising with your Team

But consider the other side of the coin. When leaders micromanage, it can stifle the potential of others. They might feel a lack of trust and empowerment, inhibiting their ability to perform at their best. This approach hampers growth and development, fostering an environment where they don't feel valued. Collaboration suffers. Motivation and retention are impacted. You will get a reputation for being difficult to work with. We all know bosses like that. We have probably worked for them and been relieved when we escaped!

So how can you overcome this fear and free yourself to become an exceptional leader? A leader people want to work for?

#1. Visualise the Benefits

Imagine the possibilities that lie beyond micromanagement. Visualise yourself having the time for strategic thinking, attending pivotal meetings and having time to focus on tasks that align with your leadership role. The clearer the picture, the stronger your desire to embrace delegation.

#2. Imagine yourself as a Great Leader

Imagine yourself as a trusting and empowering leader who brings out the best in your team, fostering growth and collaboration. Picture a team that surprises you with their enthusiasm and skills, making you comfortable with delegation. This exercise builds confidence in the power of delegation.

#3. Clear Communication

Start by articulating the task's purpose, importance and desired outcome. Clear and concise communication ensures everyone is on the same page, preventing misunderstandings and promoting alignment.

#4. Know your Team

Understanding your team members' strengths, weaknesses and skill sets is crucial. Assign tasks that align with their abilities to ensure successful execution and maintain morale. Importantly, know how they work - are they lastminute.com?! If so, you will need to give them interim deadlines ahead of time.

#5. Set Realistic Expectations

Delegate tasks that are challenging yet achievable. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and subpar results. Yet I constantly come across leaders who underestimate what others can do - maybe out of fear that they may be better and one day overtake the leader?

#6. Provide Authority and Responsibility

Empower your team with the authority necessary to complete the task. Entrusting both responsibility and decision-making power promotes ownership and accountability.

#7. Avoid Micromanagement

Delegation isn't effective if you constantly hover over your team members. Provide guidance when needed, but allow space for creativity and independent problem-solving. You need to manage yourself on this one. Ask people to give you feedback and let you know if you slip into micromanagement mode. It's easy to do so if this is your habit. Being made aware ‘in the moment’ will give you the chance to reset, and get back into your leadership shoes.

#8. Offer Support and Resources

Ensure your team has the tools, resources and information required to succeed. Address any concerns they might have and be available for guidance. Watch out for what is said between the lines. Does the person seem overconfident? Maybe they don't like to ask for help - thinking you may think badly of them. Use your intuition and 6th sense.

#9. Establish Checkpoints

This is a big one - and where you will most actively need to manage yourself and your worry. Set milestones or checkpoints to track progress. Agree on regular updates to allow you to course-correct if needed and seek guidance.

Initially, until you get to trust the other person, these will be more frequent. As you build trust in yourself and them, and you establish a good working arrangement, you will need to check in less frequently.

#10. Foster a Culture of Learning

Delegation is a learning opportunity for both leaders and team members. Encourage open communication about challenges and successes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

#11. Delegate the Right Tasks - some tasks cannot be delegated

Delegate tasks that free up your time to focus on higher-level strategic responsibilities. Avoid delegating critical decisions that require your expertise.

#12. Acknowledge and Reward

Recognise and reward your team's efforts. A simple thank you or acknowledgement goes a long way in boosting morale and encouraging future dedication. Make sure to give credit to the people who did the work. Do not take credit for someone else’s work - that is a fast way to lose respect.

#13. Be Patient

Delegating effectively takes time. Mistakes may happen, but they are valuable learning experiences. It is a learning process on both sides. Remember that it is by making mistakes that many people learn. It's your job to let people find their feet and learn, while not making disastrous mistakes. That includes you - so give yourself some slack too.

#14. Lead by Example

Demonstrate your willingness to delegate by empowering others. By showing that you trust your team, you encourage them to take ownership of their responsibilities. This may need you to take a big gulp of courage. But still do it. Remember where you want to get to and how you want to lead.

#15. Stand by your Team

Keep in mind that even when you assign tasks to others, you bear the ultimate responsibility. This is where both skill and art come into play.

Final thoughts

Delegation is necessary because it's impossible to manage everything on your own. However, this also means relinquishing direct control - individuals are answerable, yet you remain accountable.

It is crucial never to blame others. Embrace your obligations fully. Even when mistakes are made, avoid criticising people openly. A proficient leader stands firmly in support of their team. People notice, appreciate, trust and will follow people who stand up for them.

In summary, mastering delegation is a continuous journey that demands practice and refinement.

Envisage what great looks like, and remember the benefits of effective delegation. Embrace vulnerability, recognise the journey's challenges and take courageous steps. With practical, caring actions, you can transform delegation from a daunting task into a strategy for success.