
Managers like you have a lot on their plate every day because they’re not delegating responsibilities to their employees. Some managers like to think they’re Superman or Wonder Woman—bearing the weight of the world as the hero of humanity. In reality, that weight can crush you because you’re still human. Taking on too many responsibilities will burn you out faster than a short-fuse firecracker.
Those managers don’t recognize the use of their employees. The team wants to be utilized to their fullest potential and it is a key reason why you need to delegate out responsibilities. Don’t confuse delegation with dictation. Delegation is providing work to employees based on trust in their abilities. Dictation is shelling out busy work that you won’t do yourself. Check out these four advantages of delegating responsibilities.
Proper delegating prevents control freak habits
One of the barriers of performing effective delegation is managers feeling nonessential after surrendering over a task to their employee. This is so far from the truth. Releasing control is an intangible display of strength, rather than clutching to paranoia. Dictators need to control everything, but this is not going to be you. You delegate based on specific objectives and recommend solutions to your team.
Reduces risk of burning out
The purpose of delegating is also to unload things from your plate and it’s a valuable advantage for your health. You risk burnout by trying to do everything yourself. Start recognizing the symptoms sooner than later. Handling everything is not a great sign of a leader nor is overworking so much that you never feel anything gets done. Your team either can’t see it or won’t muster the guts to tell you out of respect.
Delegating frees time to create
Your employees weren’t hired just because of their stellar personalities—they have a unique set of skills that makes them a dream for people like you. Delegating duties according to their skills ultimately free up your time to focus on broader strategies and securing resources to carry out your plans. Though you are the manager, they specialize in a particular area for which you hired them. Use them—all of them.
Boosts morale across the team
Delegating responsibility means you trust your employees with autonomy. Studies reveal this autonomy can result in a higher commitment to doing their best work first and benefiting your organization. Employees would even be more inclined to take action beyond their job descriptions. Giving responsibility makes your team hungrier for more and you should give it to them, if they can handle it.
Good leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself but rather employing strategies that gets everything done by the right people. Delegation isn’t the way to pass on work or reign over your team. Take advantage of releasing some responsibilities for your own well being and to further empower your team.