Create Opportunity, Delegate the Goods

“Delegation doesn’t mean passing off work you don’t enjoy, but letting your employees stretch their skills and judgement.” – Harvey MacKay

Here’s the reality: We already know we should delegate, but we often fail to do it. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?

• Everyone else is too busy to take any more on
• I don’t want to burden someone else with this
• They will think I can’t handle this job if I ask for help
• They can’t do it as well/as fast/etc as I can. It’s just faster to do it myself
• If I delegate, I won’t look like I’m working as hard as everyone else

If any of these have crossed your mind before, it sounds like you might be suffering from what I like to refer to as “Thrift Store Syndrome” (TSS).

TSS is that feeling that one person has when they put items into an old cardboard box or trash bag and pass it off to live amongst the rubble of a thrift store. To them it’s the release of something that no longer serves them in the way it used to, and there is great relief in moving beyond it. But TSS can also include the feeling that a treasure seeker gets when they uncover that “can’t-believe-my-luck” find on the other end. The overload that you let go of has become the greatest opportunity someone else has been desperately looking for.

Often, the stories we tell ourselves get in the way of the truth: that one person’s overload is another person’s leveling up. Let’s look at some pro tips to try when we’re struggling to delegate.

1. DELEGATE PROACTIVELY, NOT REACTIVELY To do this successfully, we must think ahead. Ask:

• How can I create a sustainable pace for myself by delegating?
• What work am I holding on to that could be done by someone else?
• Where do I want to level up?

2. BUILD A BENCH ON PURPOSE We often wait until the moment of crisis to worry about who might be a good fit to delegate to. Instead, ask:

• Who has expressed interest in this work?
• Who is currently on this project that might want to grow into it further?
• What resources can I look towards for ideas on who to bring in?

3. BECOME A SELF-COACHING BOSS When we get busy, we can feel overwhelmed and just get buried in the muck. In these times, ask:

• What story am I telling myself about delegating this opportunity?
• What are the facts? How does considering just the facts affect the story?
• What are the positives for others in my delegation?
• What makes this opportunity great for the next person?
• Where has my mindset come from? What experiences have contributed to it? How can I shift it?

Delegation is a superpower – how are you going to empower yourself in 2023?