Effective leaders already know by now: delegating is good.
There are many benefits to delegating tasks. It gets jobs done faster. It helps team members grow. It opens up the leader’s time for the most important tasks.
You already know all this, so why is it still hard for you to delegate?
There are several reasons why leaders and managers struggle to let go of tasks to their team members. And identifying these reasons may be the first step in overcoming them – and start leaders on the path to delegating.
Reason 1: “It’s easier to do it myself”
Some tasks are simple enough that leaders believe it’s just easier if they just handle it themselves. Delegation – when done right – requires an investment of time and training. Why not just do the task and get it over with?
In many cases, that may be true. Leaders are usually in the position they are in because they know how to get the job done. But that is a short-term solution. For the long-term, having empowered team members with a growing list of competencies will save you much more in time, money and stress than if you are doing everything yourself.
Reason 2: “I don’t trust my team as much as I trust myself”
Many leaders – especially if they are entrepreneurs – will face reluctance because they don’t trust other people to do the job at the same level they would. After all, who cares about the business as much as they do? This is an easy trap to fall into as well.
But one of the most important things in delegating is knowing to whom to shift responsibility. If you are assigning tasks to someone who is qualified, it’s not that difficult to trust to complete this. It’s also crucial to set these team members up for success. Make sure they have the necessary skills, and are familiar with the process to accomplish the specific tasks. If not, take the time to clarify the instructions, walk them through the processes.
Again, the development of team members into trustworthy, responsible partners will only benefit you in the long run.
Reason 3: “I like doing that part of the job”
Let’s face it. Some parts of work is more enjoyable than others. Whether it’s a task that makes you feel more fulfilled, one that gets you recognition, something you know you’re really good at, or simply one that’s just plain fun, it’s hard to let go of a part of the job that you actually like.
At the end of the day, though, you have to think of the best interest of the team. As a leader, sometimes you outgrow some of your old responsibilities. And that means giving other team members a chance to shine or to have fun. Just think of it as affording someone else the same opportunities once give to you.
There are many more reasons like these, of course.
These obstacles, though, could be keeping your company from growing into its full potential. Maximizing each and every individual – whether by giving them more responsibilities or training them to be capable of handling more in the future – will be crucial to reaching this.
The sooner you overcome these obstacles, the sooner you can reap the benefits of delegating.
For more ideas on how your company can grow faster through delegation, whether in-house or outsourced, keep following TukkoLabs‘ articles or get in touch for potential business solutions that can work for you.