As a leader, one of the most critical decisions you can make is to consciously decide to bring others along with you. In order to do this, you have to place yourself in a position to help them grow alongside you. This is where delegating as a leader comes into play.

Importance of Delegating as a Leader

A Gallup study found that companies led by CEOs who were strong delegators achieved a higher overall growth rate compared to companies whose CEOs delegated less.

This is challenging when it comes to leadership, because it is often easier to DO than it is to lead. You need a project done quickly; you take it on yourself. You are meticulous with your craft; you take it on yourself. A new responsibility is placed upon you; you take it on yourself.

However, there is power in approaching work with the idea that others can be a help and not a hindrance. What many forget along the way is that doing it all on your own, despite the probable argument that supports that decision, will ultimately slow YOU down.

Why Delegate

When we fail to delegate, we fall prey to versions of ourselves we do not want to become:

• Cynical
• Frustrated
• Over-worked
• Over-tired 
• Annoyed

Finding ways to share the load not only enables you to lead better, but it empowers others to step in and grow themselves. One of the telling signs of your leadership having an impact is those under your authority being able to function well without you present. 

Here are four reasons why delegation is essential for effective leadership:

1. Frees up time: Delegation not only gives leaders time for strategic thinking, but it also allows them to focus on other tasks that only they can perform, such as leading and coaching their teams.
2. Encourages the prioritization of tasks: Prioritizing tasks helps leaders determine the most critical items to be delegated and who should perform them. 
3. Empowers employees: Delegation helps people recognize their importance to the team, which fosters a deeper sense of commitment and engagement.
4. Supports new skill development: For individuals who have responsibilities delegated to them, they have opportunities to learn a new process or interact with team members they might not deal with normally. These new experiences help them build skills in areas such as project management, teamwork, and communication.

Delegating as a leader also places you in a position to not just grow in your own craft, but grow your company as well. You place yourself in a position to show up to work each day happier, healthier, more motivated, more excited, and more passionate about doing life and work with people of the same mindset as you. 

But remember…

Although delegation is vital to the success of any company, it is important for managers and leaders to remember that it is not a way to push off unsavory tasks to others. What’s more, leaders should never micro-manage delegated tasks. They should delegate effectively and offer communication and support, but allow for autonomy and creativity at the same time.

“To raise the ceiling of your leadership potential, you need to extend your presence through the actions of others” – Jesse Sostrin, Harvard Business Review.

How to Delegate

When it comes to delegating as a leader, here are some steps to implement:

1. Decide what to delegate. What can be taken off of your plate?
2. Lean into the strengths of your people. Critically assess those strengths and make it your desire to help grow their strengths through involving them in different tasks. 
3. Clearly and efficiently explain and communicate the process to maximize desired results. Failure to communicate and instruct will ultimately leave you more frustrated, so be articulate, direct, and helpful in guiding them. 
4. Allow for failure and bumps in the road. The chances of your people doing the task exactly as you would are slim, but trust that they can get there with your help. 
5. Provide feedback – both constructive and credit where it is deserved. Part of empowering them to take on some of your tasks is helping them believe they have the strengths to accomplish them.

A healthy practice as a leader is to discipline yourself to create a habit of asking, “Who can I help grow by helping involve them in my leadership?” Leadership is not stagnant. People want to drink from a flowing river; find ways to take them along for the ride. 

Great Leaders Never Stop Growing and Learning

Professional coaching is one great resource to utilize for both developed leaders as well as new leaders.

At Converge, we want to see you succeed as a leader! Through our professional coaching, we ensure that you succeed thus leading your company and those around you to succeed as well.  It can be isolating sometimes as a leader. You are asked to make big decisions. Through our professional coaching program we allow leaders to talk through the stresses they feel everyday with professionals that have dealt with the same struggles. Reach out to us today to set up a Discovery Call! We at Converge look forward to seeing you succeed.