How to Get Better at Delegating by HBR.
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
