Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reminded that delegation is one of the toughest skills for many leaders—including me.
When things ramp up after the summer, the demands pile on: new programs, proposals, deadlines, and content to create. I found myself leaning heavily on the same tools I teach in our time management sessions—because without them, I wouldn’t have hit my deadlines.
But the bigger challenge? Delegation.
Why We Resist
For many of us, it feels faster to just do it ourselves. We know how we want the task done. We’re confident in our own standards. And, if we’re honest, sometimes we like being the go-to person.
But that mindset creates a cycle. Each time we keep the work for ourselves, we carry more burden—and our team misses out on the chance to grow.
What Effective Delegation Really Looks Like
Alain recently shared how delegation has been his saving grace. What stood out to me was his focus on intention. Delegation isn’t dumping work. It’s a strategic exercise in growth.
Here’s what it requires:
- Clarity: Make sure the task and its importance are understood.
- Expectations: Define the outcome and timeline, but not every step.
- Guardrails: Set boundaries, then let people find their own path.
- Availability: Be present for questions, without taking the work back.
- Acceptance: Learn to live with work that may not be exactly how you’d do it—but still meets the standard.
The last point is often the hardest. But it’s also where growth happens—for both the leader and the team member.
The Link to Coaching and Accountability
Delegation doesn’t end when you hand off the task. Accountability is about following up, making sure expectations are met, and asking questions when they aren’t.
And if someone goes outside the guardrails? That’s where coaching comes in. Instead of taking the task back, ask questions: Why did you approach it that way? What did you learn? What might you try differently next time?
This is how capacity is built. It takes more effort upfront, but it pays dividends over time.
Chunking, Focus, and Just Starting
Another theme we discussed was the power of chunking and the Pomodoro technique. Breaking big projects into smaller, focused pieces makes them less overwhelming and easier to start. Sometimes the hardest part of any task is simply beginning.
Twenty-five minutes of focused effort, a short break, and then another round. Repeat that a few times and suddenly the mountain doesn’t feel so big.
Two Shifts You Can Make Tomorrow
If you want to put this into practice right away, here are two small but powerful steps:
- Start delegating—even if it feels slower. Accept that it may take more time now, but you’re building long-term capacity.
- Try chunking with a timer. Just start. You don’t need to finish it all today, you just need to get moving.
Final Thought
Delegation isn’t just about getting things off your plate. It’s about growing your people, building capacity, and creating space for yourself to lead.
It’s uncomfortable at times. It won’t always look perfect. But if you stay within the guardrails and commit to the process, the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term pain.