Delegation Tips
This page brings together a special series of short, practical delegation tips, originally shared in a simple bulletin format and followed by leaders over an extended period of time.
The Daily Tips quickly became a valued resource for managers looking to delegate more effectively and lead with greater confidence.
Although the series has now come to an end, I’m pleased to say these tips are still highly relevant, well regarded and frequently referenced by leaders today. The fundamentals of good delegation don’t change, and each tip offers timeless practical guidance that can be applied immediately in day-to-day leadership situations.
I’m featuring this collection for you as an ongoing resource, drawing on my experience of working closely with executives and leadership teams.
I hope they continue to support you in developing stronger teams, greater clarity and more effective leadership.
Dave Stitt, MCC
Intellectual agility
Experience is important, but it takes a long time to collect, and if we relied only on experience we’d be dead before we’d stored up enough to deal with everything that comes our way.
Don’t worry if the fur flies
Finally, the project leader blurted out that there was no way the project would be complete by the deadline. Silence fell. This was definitely not the party line …
Hard work, made harder
The taps didn’t work. We asked the wrong questions. Stress and hassle multiplied.
The Team Thaw
Joint ventures are tough. When you get two or more groups thrown together, often with barely an introduction, confidence and trust drain away fast. Here’s a 7-step exercise to unfreeze the team.
How can you tell a good or a bad leader?
Look at the environment they create.
Enthusiasm half-life
When you set a courageous goal and begin enlisting help to achieve it, excitement takes hold. This is a powerful force, but watch out, because there is a dynamic working against goal excitement all the time.
What would make you happy?
It’s the wrong question. Listen to this conversation, which takes place at kitchen tables, in cars and pubs across the land …
Progress vs. Perfection
“I’d love to learn to play the piano, but if I can’t play like Mozart in six months, what’s the point?” A lot of people think like that. The yearning for perfection is a major reason why so little progress gets made.
Goals that miss the point
Just because a goal seems courageous doesn’t mean it’s the right goal. Pick the ones that matter. Here’s an example.
Goal-setting and language
In business we use jargony, corporate-speak because it sounds “proper”. We should stop because we’re missing the chance to use the natural power of language to fire imaginations. Here’s an example.
Your important renewable resource
As we get older, our confidence takes a knock. But confidence isn’t an organ that withers with age. There are things we can do to nurture and protect it.
Process v. Outcome
You gave Lucy a big job: looking after client outreach. It means you don’t have to manage the client hospitality day any more, which was a hassle. Was it a good idea? I’ll tell you why it may not be.