As our IT team expanded, many seasoned business leaders and friends advised me on the importance of effective delegation. They emphasized the need to empower team members to take ownership of tasks and even experience failure as part of their growth. Determined to delegate properly, I discovered that while failing to delegate can harm a team, there’s something equally, if not more, damaging: abdication.

In my eagerness to delegate, I often handed off tasks without providing clear direction or adequate training. This left team members struggling to complete tasks they weren’t fully prepared for. My intention wasn’t to abandon these tasks, but my actions amounted to abdication.

Effective delegation requires a delicate balance. It’s like a relay race: if you let go of the baton too soon, it will fall; if you hold on too long, you hinder the next runner’s stride. This balance is crucial in IT, where precision and timing are everything.

We’ve learned that successful delegation hinges on three core principles:

1. Humility

Both the delegator and the delegate must set aside their egos. The focus should be on achieving the best outcome for the task at hand. As a delegator, it’s essential to avoid holding onto tasks out of pride. Clear, merit-based decisions about when to hold on and when to let go are vital. For the delegate, humility means being open to learning and admitting when they need help. This fosters honest communication and effective training, speeding up the process by addressing issues before they become problems.

2. Communication

Initially, I assumed that stating something once was sufficient. However, effective communication involves ongoing dialogue and availability to discuss finer details. This doesn’t mean micromanaging but being available to provide guidance. Often, the best way to counsel someone is by asking questions that help them think through their approach and align their actions with the goal. This method not only aids in problem-solving but also builds confidence in the delegate’s abilities.

3. Teamwork

Delegates often lack the broader perspective that the delegator has. While they can always seek advice from the delegator, leveraging the collective knowledge of the team can be even more powerful. Team members must be humble enough to admit what they don’t know and collaborate to fill in the gaps. This approach often leads to solutions that surpass what the original delegator might have envisioned.

Delegation in IT isn’t just about increasing work capacity; it’s a powerful tool for mentoring and developing new team members. We believe in this so strongly that it’s a core part of our business strategy. You’ll often find our senior staff working alongside junior team members, guiding them through various stages of training to prepare them for future responsibilities.