3 Practical Ways to Delegate More
Whenever I run a leadership workshop, I ask leaders one simple question:
On a scale of 1–10, how good are you at delegating?
A 1 means ”I do almost everything myself.”
A 10 means “I consistently delegate the right work to the right people and trust them to get it done.”
Where would you put yourself?
Why Leaders Struggle to Delegate
Most leaders don’t say 9 or 10.
They usually land somewhere between 4 and 6.
Their reasons are understandable.
Delegating can feel risky. Sometimes it’s quicker to do it yourself. Sometimes you worry that their work won’t meet your standards. Other times, you simply don’t know where to start.
But here’s the challenge.
Every task you continue to hold onto is time you’re not spending on the work only you can do as a leader.
That’s why delegation isn’t just about reducing your workload. It’s about becoming a more effective leader.
When you delegate well, you:
- Create time for strategic thinking instead of constant firefighting
- Develop your people’s skills and confidence
- Increase accountability across the team
- Build a team that can solve problems without relying on you for every decision
Don’t Aim for a 10
You don’t need to become a perfect delegator overnight.
Instead, ask yourself:
How can I move up by two points?
If you’re currently a 4, what would a 6 look like?
If you’re a 6, what could you start delegating that would move you to an 8?
Small changes create big results over time.
Here are 3 Practical Ways to Delegate More Effectively
1. Start smaller than you think.
You don’t have to hand over an entire project. Delegate one meeting, one report, one client conversation, or one part of a larger piece of work. As confidence grows for both you and your team, then you can delegate more.
2. Let go of perfection.
One of the biggest barriers to delegation is expecting someone to do the task exactly as you would.
They probably won’t and that is okay.
If the outcome meets the objective, resist the urge to jump in and make every small adjustment. Give people the opportunity to learn and improve.
3. Delegate to develop.
Delegation isn’t about handing someone a task and hoping for the best.
Set clear expectations and then check-in along the way. Ask coaching questions instead of taking the work back.
Good delegation develops people.
Poor delegation creates frustration.
Your Challenge This Week
Think about everything on your to-do list.
What’s one task you’re still doing that someone else could learn to do?
Choose one and delegate it.
Then coach the person through it instead of taking it back at the first sign of difficulty.
You may be surprised by what they’re capable of accomplishing.
Delegation isn’t about getting work off your desk.
It’s about building a stronger, more capable team.
If you’d like to become more confident at delegating, this is exactly what we work on in The Lead Your People Program.
In the program, you will build a practical delegation strategy so you know what to delegate, who to delegate to, and how to set your team up for success. You’ll leave with a clear plan that saves you time while helping your team grow.
I’d love to have you join us on September 8th, 2026.
Find out more information and register here.
Delegation gets easier when your whole team is equipped. Here’s what one CEO saw when his entire organization went through the program together:
Vanessa trained our executive leaders team and all the direct reports across our organization. She is amazing to say the least. Her program is great for both new and experienced leaders. I would highly recommend her program for anyone looking to level up their leadership.
Richy Nelson, CEO, Roofr
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