Struggling to delegate? Especially as a first-time leader, it can be difficult to let go of control and trust your team to execute tasks on your behalf. These strategies can help.
Change your mindset.
First, accept that you can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything yourself. Your
success now depends on helping your team grow and achieve their goals. This
means guiding them, offering learning opportunities, and holding them
accountable.
Determine what to delegate.
List all your tasks and projects for the month, then identify the high-level
work only you can do and delegate the rest. Look for projects that might be
learning opportunities for your employees and align these responsibilities with
their strengths and career goals.
Communicate clearly.
Schedule one-on-one meetings with your team members to delegate work. Explain
the project, its importance, and why you’ve chosen them to do it. Give them
space to ask questions and process the information. Establish clear roles and
timelines and align on communication styles to ensure clarity and avoid
micromanaging.
Provide feedback.
During check-ins, offer constructive feedback and resources. Celebrate
milestones and recognize your employees’ efforts publicly.
Review and reflect. After
your employee completes an assignment, conduct a postmortem. Discuss what went
well, what didn’t, and what they learned. This will help you improve your
delegation skills and better support your team moving forward.
