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🕶 Why do you struggle with delegation?

🕶 Why do you struggle with delegation?

Jacob Espinoza
April 24, 2024

Leading With…

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Why do you struggle with delegation?

Today, we're in the trenches. Cutting weeds and smacking bugs away as we enter the world of delegation.

This is the skill that can take you from being just another boss to becoming a true multiplier.

As a leader, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself. But that's not how the best leaders get things done. You might feel like you are doing your team a favor by trying to own everything, but you are only causing them to wonder why you don’t trust them to take things off of your plate.

By shifting your focus from being the main doer to becoming a multiplier, you can tap into the collective genius of your squad. Learning to effectively delegate is a combination of multiple leadership skills, but when you learn to do it well the sky's the limit for your potential.

Here are a few of the key benefits of becoming an effective delegator.

Skill Development: Offers growth and learning opportunities.
Empowers Your Teams: Increases trust and job satisfaction.
Optimizes Time Management: Focuses leaders on high-value activities.
Improves Decision Making: Fosters faster, effective problem-solving.
Supports Employee Development: Gives your team an opportunity to develop skills by taking on challenging assignments.

Invest in Your Team

Delegation isn't just about dumping tasks on your team's plate. It's about investing authority in them and showing them that you trust their abilities. When you give your team members the opportunity to step up and take ownership, you're not only lightening your own load but also helping them grow and develop their skills.

Identify each team member's strengths and passions, and delegate tasks that align with their abilities. Your team will be more engaged in their work when they are able use their strengths consistently.
Gradually increase the complexity and importance of the tasks you delegate to each team member as they prove their capability. This will help keep them in the FLOW state.
Publicly and privately acknowledge and celebrate your team's successes to reinforce your trust in their abilities. Remember, the things that are recognized are repeated.

Coach 'Em Up

As a leader, you're not just a task assigner; you're a coach and a teacher. When you delegate, make sure your team has the knowledge and tools they need to crush it. Take the time to guide them, provide feedback, and help them learn from their mistakes. By investing in their development, you're building a team of all-stars who can handle anything thrown their way.

Provide clear instructions and resources when delegating tasks to ensure your team has the necessary knowledge and tools.
Schedule regular check-ins to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide constructive and positive feedback.

Create a Safe Space

Let's be real; nobody's perfect. Mistakes happen, and that's okay. As a multiplier, your job is to create an environment where your team feels safe to take risks, experiment, and learn from their failures. Encourage them to push boundaries and think outside the box. When you foster a culture of psychological safety, you unlock innovation and creativity.

🕶 Failure is part of the process for any team looking at making progress. Avoiding mistakes is avoiding growth. Stop being afraid of trying new things, and focus on learning and growing from your mistakes.

Set the Bar High

While it's important to give your team autonomy, it's equally crucial to set clear expectations and hold them accountable. When you delegate, make sure your team knows what success looks like and what's expected of them. By setting the bar high and expecting complete, high-quality work, you're pushing your team to bring their A-game every single day.

Clearly define the desired outcomes, deadlines, and quality standards for each delegated task.
Establish a system for tracking progress and holding team members accountable for their commitments.
Celebrate your team's high-quality work and use their successes as examples to reinforce your expectations.

Ask, Don't Tell

As a leader, it's tempting to have all the answers. But true multipliers know that the real magic happens when you ask the right questions. When you delegate a task, don't just give your team the solution. Ask them thought-provoking questions that challenge them to think critically and come up with their own innovative ideas. By empowering your team to be problem-solvers, you're fostering a culture of creativity and ownership.

Use open-ended questions to encourage your team to think deeply about the challenges they face and generate their own solutions.
Ask your team to present their ideas and thought processes, and provide constructive feedback to help them refine their problem-solving skills.
Encourage your team to ask questions and challenge assumptions to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

So there you have it, my fellow leaders.

You beautiful souls.

Delegation is not just a tool; it's an art form. By mastering the art of delegation, you can transform from a doer to a multiplier, empowering your team to reach new heights and unlocking your own leadership potential in the process.

Have questions? You know what to do. Bring them on!

Is it time you stop looking for help with your team’s leadership development? Use this link to schedule time for us to chat.

The Events!

Elevate Your Leadership: Mastering the 1:1 Meeting - Virtual Workshop with Jacob Espinoza, Founder of Leader's Lens, and Kelsey Bishop, Founder of Candor.

Leadership is so much easier when you understand how to lead a 1-on-1 that WORKS. When done well, this time invested in your team will help instill trust, develop leadership and problem solving abilities, and ensure your team stay aligned.

Do you want to unlock the full potential of your team members and drive better results?

Join us for a transformative virtual workshop, Elevate Your Leadership: Mastering the 1:1 Meeting, hosted by Candor.

In this workshop, you'll discover:

The power of 1:1s in building strong relationships and driving performance
A proven framework for structuring your 1:1s for maximum impact
Techniques for fostering open communication and trust with your team
Strategies for aligning team members with key priorities and goals
How to use 1:1s for coaching, development, and growth
Common mistakes to avoid in your 1:1s

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