Today, I want to talk to you about a very important tip for developing your leadership skills and doing what it takes to move up the career ladder.
I know that carrying out your tasks each day can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially as a manager when you have to juggle a million different things.
But here is what’s important… Managing and leading a team means that when work becomes intense, it’s essential to ask for help when you need it.
Being a leader doesn’t mean that you have to take everything on your own shoulders, in fact, a sign of a great leader is the ability to delegate some of your own tasks out to other employees when you most needed.
Delegation is one of the most critical components for leveling up at work, which is a core component of leadership and management.
Delegating allows you to climb the career mountain faster than you would if you took on all of your job duties alone without the help from your team members. It frees up space in your calendar to allow for more strategic, high-level initiatives that will prepare you for your next promotion.
Some say that you should always dress for the job that you want, and not for the job that you have. The same can be said for the work you do day in and day out on the job.
It’s true.
As you level-up in your career, think about ways to step into the role you aspire to have before the promotion actually happens.
Side note: This does not mean to step on your boss’ toes! You’ll have to be strategic and communicative about it.
Delegating is a Win-Win
Now here is the key…
The act of delegation will not only free up time in your schedule to take on these more significant challenges at work, but it will also help others on your team step into the shoes of a higher-level position themselves.
If you’d like to have more time in your schedule to take on delegated tasks from those who are higher up on the career ladder, it’s vital to learn how to delegate some of your tasks out to your direct reports.
Don’t Worry About Overburdening Your Team
Now, you may be saying to yourself that delegating tasks to others will overburden them if they already have a lot on their plates… but this is typically not the case.
Delegating tasks to your team is a big sign of trust, and an honor they are likely to grab onto and run with.
Delegating to your team members allows them to start developing and exhibiting skills that will help them to level up as well!
How I Felt…
I can remember a manager of mine who used to call me late in the evening or early in the morning, and he would ask me to help out with different projects he was working on.
He would share with me the work that he’d already completed, where he wanted to go with it, and would assign me certain aspects of the projects.
Having the opportunity to step into the shoes of my manager didn’t overwhelm me even all even when I had a lot on my plate already and was working long hours. Instead, it energized me. It made me feel trusted and that my input and opinion was valued.
This was a win-win because my manager was able to delegate out some of his work, and I was able to step into his role and feel energized and appreciated by it.
Ask Your Team How They Feel
If you’re still worried about how your team members will react when you delegate some tasks to them then talk to them about it. Ask them how they feel about taking on some of your higher-level work, and their responses just may surprise you.
You likely have specific people in mind who you’d like to delegate tasks out. It’s important to present this to them in a way that shows how much you trust in them and would appreciate for them to take on some of your essential work. This will instill a sense of pride in your team and encourage them to execute with confidence and poise.
The 70% Rule
An excellent guide for deciding when to delegate, and to whom, is to use the 70% rule that many successful CEOs use.
This rule says that if your employee can be at least 70% as good at the task as you would be, then you should delegate it.
In Conclusion
Delegating is a wonderful exercise in being an assertive leader, and a powerful way to show your higher-ups that you are able to lead your team in accomplishing tasks successfully while avoiding burnout and becoming overwhelmed.
If you want to nail delegation and set yourself up for a next promotion then I’d love to chat with you. Click HERE to schedule a call for us.
