How Good Are You At Delegating?

Issue #25

As I ease my way into a new year, I reviewed the list of lessons I haven’t covered here yet and one jumped right to the top. And before I dive in, I want you to know I’m walking the walk with you on this one and working hard to get better at it myself as well in 2025. So here we go….

Learn to Delegate – Now!

As the new year was quickly approaching, I began to consider what would come with me into this next chapter and what would be left behind. I also finished a great book that shifted my mindset on identifying when I’m doing my best work and when I’m doing something that doesn’t require me to use my gifts at all.

Here’s a quote I heard years ago that pretty much sums it up:

“Do only what only you can do.”

It’s much easier said than done, but truly is what we should all be striving for, especially as leaders looking to lighten our loads and empower our teams.

So here are three questions to consider as you make your own list of things to keep and things that could OR should be passed along to someone else on your team or outsourced for better efficiency.

What do you LOVE to do?

While you can’t always keep all of the items on this list, without one or two things you love to do staying in the mix as part of your daily routine, your work life will become pretty boring pretty quickly. The key here is to identify when the value of YOU doing this thing that you’re good at is no longer in alignment with what’s best overall. Letting go can be tough, but necessary for continued growth.

What do you HAVE to do?

As a leader, there will always be certain things that you can’t fully delegate. Keeping an eye on the business metrics and finances is at the top of the list for me. But, you can delegate putting the reports together to someone else to save yourself some time in the trenches.

What do you NEED to get off of your plate completely?

As I typed this final question, a task came to mind immediately. As we grow and evolve in our roles and positions as leaders, some things that we’re used to doing just no longer make sense. If you still have lower level tasks on your weekly to do list that can and should be handled by someone else, make a plan to make it happen. Document the process or procedure if needed, then identify the best person to handle it and hand it off.

Here’s to an amazing new year ahead filled with opportunities to do more of what you love and use your gifts to the fullest. They were given to YOU for a reason. Now it’s time to find out why by sharing them with the rest of us. 🤩

With you on the journey…

P.S. – The book was The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, and while it’s been around for a while, it landed on my desk right on time for me.