A client recently told me she was finding it harder and harder to delegate tasks to her team.
Her business was growing, her workload increasing—but instead of feeling excited, she felt stressed and stuck. She knew she couldn’t do everything herself anymore, yet she hesitated to let go of control.
She admitted, “I just don’t trust that they’ll do it as well as I would.”
Sound familiar?
If delegating makes you anxious, you’re far from alone. Many capable leaders struggle to hand over responsibility, even when they know it’s the right thing to do.
What Delegation Really Means
Delegation isn’t just assigning tasks. It’s a leadership skill that helps you achieve strategic goals by distributing responsibilities to others—so you can focus on higher-level work.
In theory, that sounds simple. In practice, it can feel uncomfortable, especially when your standards are high and your name is on the final product.
Delegating means trusting, letting go, and allowing for imperfection. It means teaching, not just telling.
Why Delegating Feels So Hard
Let’s look at the two main types of barriers that get in the way of effective delegation—external and internal.
External Barriers
Sometimes your hesitation makes sense. There may be legitimate obstacles preventing your team from succeeding with delegated work. Ask yourself:
- Do they have the knowledge and skills to do the job well?
- Do they have the resources and time they need?
- Is the task too high-value to delegate without oversight?
- Have you built a learning culture—where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth rather than failures?
If your answer to some of these is “no,” it’s not a delegation issue—it’s a systems issue. These are the conditions you can fix.
Internal Barriers
But sometimes, the real barrier isn’t external—it’s you.
Delegation triggers deep emotions for leaders who take pride in their competence and results. It can feel risky to hand something over that reflects your standards and reputation.
Ask yourself:
- Can I tolerate work that’s good enough, not perfect?
- Can I accept there might be more than one right way to achieve an outcome?
- Have I slipped into micromanagement without realizing it?
- Can I coach instead of control when mistakes happen?
- Can I manage my frustration when things don’t go exactly as planned?
True delegation requires both courage and self-awareness.
You’re not just delegating tasks—you’re delegating trust.
Why This Matters
When you hold on too tightly, you stifle your team’s growth and limit your own capacity.
When you delegate thoughtfully, you multiply impact—yours and theirs.
Leaders who learn to let go find more time for strategy, creativity, and vision. They also find that their teams become more confident, capable, and engaged.
So, what’s your biggest challenge with delegation right now?
Recognizing it is the first step toward changing it.
If you’re a leader or business owner wanting to strengthen your delegation and communication skills, the TUF Leadership Program can help.
| P.S. We can offer this training online for those who are unable to attend a workshop. We hold public workshops in Wellington throughout the year or in-house workshops anywhere in New Zealand. Get in touch if you want. Call me on 027 246 0411 to chat about how we can help your situation. contact us directly. |
