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
Five great questions
I’ve said before that the annual appraisal is useless. Do you want one that works? Here’s a simple alternative …
There is no solution
It feels like we’re heading for meltdown, with the country and the world bitterly divided. I don’t have a solution, but I do have a serious suggestion: let’s stop hunting for solutions.
Putting up with it
For at least two years I’ve been worried about my laptop. I dropped it when it was about six months old and I don’t think it’s ever been quite right since, though I’ve put up with it to avoid the hassle of replacing it. I see now that was a mistake.
‘Our values’ nonsense
Do company websites still have “Our values” sections? It must be the least visited bit of any website, because everyone knows it’s nonsense: just somebody’s idea of what sounds good. I wonder what Carillion’s “Our values” section said.
Sinfulness and delegation
In the Old Testament, God’s people are forever straying into sinfulness and meeting disaster as a result. We don’t talk about “sin” in our rational age, but what if it’s a concept that needs reviving?
You’re allowed to do what you love
When you’re in your zone of mastery, 1) people admire you because the results are stunning; 2) you love what you’re doing and time flies; 3) it gives you energy rather than sapping it; and 4) you get better at it all the time.
Warning signs of the Big “C”
I mean Carillion. It went bust a year ago today. Can you help me assemble a list of warning signs? Think of it as a crowd-sourced exercise that we all might find it useful. I’ll tell you why.
Everything is feedback
I learned this from an inspiring, truly professional boss I had years ago. It could an offhand remark about a customer, a glance at your phone, or not bothering to acknowledge someone in the corridor.
Resist!
The time has come to rise up against wasted money, conflict, and crappy outcomes!
Have some damn faith!
Okay, so, yes, I’m reading Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life”. Forget about lobsters, though: right now I’m taken by his ideas about faith.
An exciting question
If you’re in charge of a team, a department or a company, you’re captain of the ship, and your job isn’t to be down with the crew, immersed in their processes, but up on the bridge working out where the ship should be heading.
Give it a rest
Holidays are a chance to step off the treadmill, take a breath, and look around. A chance to assess priorities, ask different questions, connect with people, even if it’s all outside our comfort zone of busyness.