Give Up Responsibility Without Giving Away Your Job
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January 1st. A lot of resolutions are made. Losing that extra weight, actually taking a vacation, eating healthier. But somehow, we tend to fall short on most of these. We bog ourselves down with work and activities galore that weigh on us. How do we create the time to do some of the things we want (and need) to and be less stressed?
Delegate.
There are a lot of reasons leaders don’t delegate. You’re worried that the job won’t get done right or that you could do it better. Or there is a lack of confidence and trust in your team. You may not get the credit for the work or worse – your job will be given away. The fact of the matter is you can be a much more efficient leader if you can learn to let go a little.
I’ll admit that I’m more of a Type A personality, and it can be very difficult to lose control of a situation. Type A or not, you can give up responsibility (and headache) without giving it all away:
Build Confidence
There is a reason you work with the people you do. Recognize their successes and start to see what their strengths are. Not everyone can do everything best, but by taking note of who does what well and celebrating that helps when it comes time to give out tasks.
Don’t Give Away the Farm
When delegating, it can be tough not to go to the extreme either. Recognize who can do what in the process so you make sure the job is done properly and also allow for team development. Dissect a problem and when you do so, ask yourself if this is something you need to worry about or what part you need to play.
Let Go and Learn
A lot of times we don’t delegate due to the thinking that we can do it better. After discovering what can be given to whom, pay attention to what they do. They very well may teach you something. Everyone has a unique view on a problem and when they tackle it, you gain insight on better ways to handle the future.
Push Forward
By letting go of a little responsibility, you free yourself up to focus on the progress of your team. What do you need to concern yourself with? Learn what projects you can’t give out and recognize your own strengths as well.
Do yourself a favor and be less stressed this year. Notice the strengths of your team, build confidence and trust in their abilities, learn from them, and let go. Free yourself to do what you do best and push forward strongly this new year.
Around the ETE water cooler, he’s known as the Dapper Dan of Reman. This week’s author (and brand new 2014 Reman U contributor) Kendrick Acken is more than just a snappy dresser, though. How do you delegate to be less stressed and a more effective leader? Share in the comments or with him directly!
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