As a new leader, I often felt the need to do it all. I believed I had to know every detail and take on every task. This mindset seemed justified, especially when transitioning into new roles where there was often a backlog of work waiting for me. Whether it was a newly created position, a role vacated by someone else, or a company pivot, I felt a personal mission to hit the ground running and prove myself.
Particularly during my first leadership role, I was plagued by the fear of being "found out" as not good enough. This fear drove me to constantly be available, complete tasks ahead of schedule, and tackle everything myself. In short, I had a lot of growth to do to become an effective leader with a sense of balance. Each of these thoughts was problematic, but today, I want to focus on the journey of learning not to do everything myself.
In my personal life, I received great advice on managing everything at home: outsource what you can. My husband and I embraced this, hiring a cleaning service and opting for grocery delivery to save time and reduce stress. I'm fortunate to have a partner who shares household responsibilities, making it clear to me that I didn't have to do everything alone at home. However, this mindset didn't initially translate to my work life.
Delegation was a skill I had to work hard to learn. There were many excuses I gave myself for not delegating, but they were mostly rooted in misconceptions. One of the biggest reasons was the need to prove myself, especially as a young leader. I thought doing everything myself would validate my capabilities to my supervisors. I also felt there was no time to delegate, as it required training someone else to do things to my standards.
I had fallen victim to at least two myths about delegation:
Myth #1: Delegation is a Sign of Weakness. Many people believe that asking for help or delegating tasks demonstrates a lack of capability. The truth is quite the opposite. Delegation is a mark of strong leadership and confidence in your team. It shows that you trust your colleagues and believe in their abilities. True leaders understand they can't do everything alone; their strength lies in empowering others. By delegating, you free yourself to focus on higher-level tasks and develop future leaders. It's about lifting others up and achieving greatness together. Truth: Delegation is a strength, not a weakness.
Myth #2: Delegation Takes Too Much Time. It's easy to think that training someone else will slow you down. While it may take time upfront to explain and guide someone through a task, this investment pays off in the long run. The effort you put in now grows into long-term efficiency and productivity. By training others, you're not just saving time for yourself later; you're also building a more competent and self-sufficient team. The more they know, the more they can do, and the less you have to worry about. Truth: Investing time upfront saves time later and leads to long-term efficiency.
Learning to delegate has been a work in progress, but it has brought me more joy in my career. Watching team members grow and succeed at new tasks is incredibly rewarding. There's nothing quite like seeing someone's eyes light up when they accomplish something new. Delegation has also allowed me to focus on the bigger picture, giving me time to think strategically and engage in the aspects of my work that I truly enjoy.
Are you struggling with delegation? Do you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks that could be shared with your team? It's time to rethink your approach. Delegation is not just about offloading work; it's about building a stronger, more capable team and creating space for the work that matters most to you. Start by identifying tasks you can delegate and find the right team members to take them on. Trust in their abilities and watch them grow. Let's embrace the power of delegation together!
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