Issue 102: Delegation
THE LEAP
BY QUANTUM ORANGE
GROW, EXPAND & EVOLVE
ISSUE 102 | DELEGATION
Each week The (Quantum) Leap summarises a key aspect of success into what you need to Think, Feel and Do to create a personal shift.
Every year do more of what you love and less of what you don’t.
~ Katrina Skinner
THINK
Ever feel like you’ve got too much to do, too many fires to put out and too little time to do ‘big picture’ thinking?
There’s a solution - delegate.
But many people find it difficult to do.
Perhaps you know it’s important, but experience resistance to actually doing it. Or maybe you’ve decided the only people who have the authority to delegate are those with employees. Think again. The Oxford Dictionary defines delegation as ‘entrusting to another’, while Miriam Webster Dictionary lays it out as, ‘to give (control, responsibility, authority) to someone: to trust someone with a job, duty etc., to choose (someone) to do something’.
In the hustle and bustle of modern family life, mastering the art of delegation is the key to finding balance and maintaining our sanity. Juggling work, household responsibilities and children's needs can feel overwhelming, but fear not – all of us are capable of delegating and we need to give ourselves permission as part of our self-care plan.
How you think about delegation can be very revealing. Ask yourself:
- Do I think I’ll do it better myself?
- Am I assuming it will take too long to explain?
- Am I thinking I’ll be accountable if it goes wrong?
- Do I believe my team don’t have the skills?
- Am I worried delegating will reduce my authority?
FEEL
For many of us, the fear of delegation is paralysing: important work doesn’t get done, stress continually piles up and we feel we’ll never be able to catch up. The fear is often so great we will risk burnout.
Take a moment to go within and reflect on whether you experience any of the following feelings …
- I know I should ask for help, but I feel that is being pushy.
- Everyone else already has more than enough to do.
- I don’t want to be the kind of leader that keeps asking for things.
- I feel I have to lead by example.
- I feel like a burden to others.
- I worry others will see me as lazy.
It is important we understand the science behind fear of delegation so we can implement effective strategies to help ourselves. The amygdala, the part of our brain that processes emotions, sees delegation as a threat, which triggers a fight-or-flight response. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex (or thinking brain), convinces us delegation equates to giving up control.
In addition, dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation, gets triggered when we complete tasks ourselves, making us feel accomplished and in control.
The following strategies can help overcome the brain’s role in producing the fear of delegation:
- Reframe delegation as an opportunity to help yourself and others - the shift in perspective will calm the amygdala
- Use the dopamine reward pathway to set yourself (and others) up for success by delegating tasks that align with personal strengths and areas for development
- Celebrate small wins as tasks are completed - this reinforces positive delegation experiences and strengthens the dopamine reward loop
- Spend some time dwelling on the purpose of delegation - doing so reduces the perceived threat
DO
Delegation is a critical skill, but it’s not an easy one. It demands a healthy dose of self-awareness, practise and continual refinement.
We all deal with varied obstacles, but the key is to remember that the whole point of delegation is to create a life for yourself in which you are free to do what you were meant to do, what you enjoy doing, what is necessary for your family and what you do best.
Ask yourself:
- Which tasks add value to your life and get you closer to your big why?
- What would you like to delegate starting today?
- Which tasks are the biggest pain points and cause the most friction?
Once you have identified areas for improvement, use the following strategies to delegate more effectively.
Delegate problems - not tasks
When you’re pushed, it’s natural to think of tasks that need your attention, but good delegation requires you to think in terms of the end result that you are after.
Coach - don’t instruct
Help the person you are delegating to find their solution instead of telling them what to do.
Establish the goal
Once you’ve delegated the problem, ask the person you have delegated it to to explain what a good result would look and feel like. Answer any questions they ask, to help them understand what outcomes would resolve the problem.
Build awareness and explore options
Ensure awareness of the current situation by asking questions like:
- Where are we now in relation to the goal?
- What’s working and what isn’t working?
- What might stop you from making progress?
- What options are available?
- What else can we/you do?
Get commitment
Be sure you follow up on the awareness by asking what they need to do next and when they’ll know the problem has been resolved. Ask if there are any resources they need to get the job done.
Say thank you
If someone resolves a problem for you, show genuine appreciation by saying thank you and pointing out what they did well.
