If you struggle to delegate, you’re not alone. But holding onto every task isn’t just overwhelming—it can hold you back. Effective delegation isn’t about offloading work, but empowering your team, boosting efficiency, and freeing up your time for high-impact priorities. Here’s how to get started.

Identify your roadblocks. Do you resist delegating due to control issues, perfectionism, or fear of failure? Recognize these tendencies and ask: What’s the real cost—not just to you, but to your team’s growth, efficiency, and overall morale?

Know what to delegate. As a manager, your job is to focus on three key responsibilities: strategy, hiring decisions, and ensuring your team has resources. If a task doesn’t fall into these categories, someone else can likely handle it.

Start small. Begin with low-risk work, like recurring reports or scheduling. Quick wins build confidence for both you and your team, making larger handoffs easier over time.

Give directions—but allow for autonomy. Explain expectations, desired outcomes, and key checkpoints, but let people find their own way. Micromanaging stifles innovation and creates unnecessary bottlenecks.

Check in (without hovering). Use structured touchpoints to track progress, address concerns, and provide support, making sure to avoid excessive oversight that signals a lack of trust.
This tip is adapted from “How to Get Better at Delegating,” by Rebecca Knight.
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