You Should Delegate (Even When It Feels Hard)
“I will also take some of the spirit that is on you and will confer it on them, that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself” (Numbers 11:17).
Delegating is simultaneously one of the most stressful and freeing terms in the professional world. According to Dictionary.com, “to delegate” means “to send or appoint a person as deputy or representative” or “to commit (powers, functions, etc.) to another as agent or deputy.” Perhaps equally tellingly, one of the synonyms is “entrust.”
I am often terrible at delegation, but I have also been a witness to its fruits many times in my career. If you, like me, are hand-wringingly anxious over delegating any piece of your professional life (or your personal one!), it’s worth considering what’s causing that anxiety, what the benefits of delegation can be, and how you can identify when it’s time to delegate.
Fear of Delegation
As a person in the professional world, it is sometimes necessary to delegate work, roles, or tasks–but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Delegating can be a source of stress for many reasons, including:
The additional work required to train the delegate
Removal of work that’s enjoyable or related to professional goals
Losing access to colleagues or networks focused on the work being delegated
Potential for the person taking over the work or tasks “messing up” or not performing at a high level
Having to cede control over work that may have previously been solely managed by you
While these are valid fears (it’s true that a new person may not know the role or task as well as you do immediately!), it’s also important to think about the opportunities that delegation has brought to you in your professional life. Perhaps a manager delegated a task that you were able to perfect and take ownership of, expanding your capability and elevating your position. By delegating, you are giving the gift of an opportunity to another person. There are many benefits to delegation!
Benefits of Delegation
Delegation can feel hard—isn’t it just easier to keep doing everything yourself? Spoiler: It’s not! By allowing others to take over a task, you may be able to find greater balance in your own role and/or personal life. Without letting go of certain tasks as your responsibilities expand, your workload can become too much to manage and it will become difficult to maintain other professional or personal commitments. It is also important to let go of existing roles in order to grow into new ones as you gather skills. Additional benefits of delegation include:
Getting to train someone using all the skills and expertise you’ve learned (no one will blame you if you show off a little bit while you’re doing it). It feels great to teach!
Offering someone the opportunity to learn a new role or task alongside a dedicated expert (you!)
Removing some stress or strain from your workload after the initial training period
Balancing your workload more effectively with your capacity
When to Delegate
How can you identify when you’re ready to delegate? A few signs include:
A workload that’s not sustainable: You’re missing out on personal commitments or having to turn down professional opportunities simply due to the volume of tasks that you’re responsible for
Tasks outside of your expertise (for example, social media marketing or accounting) take up a lot of your time and create frustration
You want to grow into a new role or learn new skills, but can’t until you let go of some of your existing ones
There are a variety of reasons that can indicate it’s the perfect time to find support and delegate a role or task. Check in with your feelings around the idea of letting those tasks go: Does it make you feel relief? Less overwhelmed? Like there’s a light at the end of the overwork tunnel?
Delegation can be hard, but it is ultimately very important for your work, your business, your mental health, and your work-life balance. By delegating, you become a leader in your role or vocation as you guide others to take over a responsibility that was previously yours. Consider areas where you can delegate in your professional or personal life!