Delegating means assigning responsibilities to other teammates. On a team, every member has a part to play. Ideally, you should divide work evenly and allot tasks that correspond to team members’ strengths.
Delegation is a tricky art. Many leaders and teammates struggle to cede control, preferring to take on the bulk of the work.
This method is inefficient, because high-achieving team members waste time doing tasks that other team members could easily handle. Some leaders rely on subordinates to assume roles with too much responsibility. Either way, this kind of behavior voids the benefits of working together, transforming coworkers into lackeys instead of equals. Over-utilizing or under-utilizing certain team members can lead to resentment, frustration, and burnout. Entrusting teammates with appropriate responsibilities shows respect and builds employee confidence.
To foster delegation, acknowledge teammates’ strengths and draw attention to accomplishments. You can periodically inventory workloads and redistribute tasks as necessary. When adjusting assignments, you can frame your actions as an experiment to find the most efficient combination for the team.
