Delegating

Delegate your authority without fear

March 11, 2020
You know it’s important to delegate authority to those you lead in order to empower them and develop their leadership potential. Still, giving up the authority you’ve worked so hard to acquire and apply is hard. Accept that fact, and learn to face three of the fears that plague every leader who delegates.

Delegating? Avoid these 5 blunders

July 26, 2019
Delegating tasks is an essential part of being an effective manager. Ensure that when you delegate it’s a help and not a hassle—for you and the people to whom you give assignments. Don’t make these errors.

Trust employees to take charge

July 12, 2018
In 1968, William Cecil wanted to upgrade the North Carolina estate that he inherited from his grandfather. Cecil chose the Biltmore’s head carpenter, Wexler Ogle Plemmons, for the coveted job. Then he challenged him to think big.

‘So … why am I doing this for you exactly?’

December 8, 2017

Your team will perform best when you trust its members to perform on their own. Don’t just hand people a project. Make sure they can positively answer these questions.

Proclaim the what, not the how

July 13, 2017
Clarity and leadership go together. Communicate clear directions and give your team the leeway to find ways to advance toward the goal.

Your words reveal your confidence

June 23, 2017
Everything we perceive is influenced by how we see ourselves. For this reason, we need to develop self-awareness—with no filters—to fulfill our potential as leaders.

4 ways to delegate

April 9, 2017
At its simplest, delegation involves handing over assignments to employees. There are four ways to delegate. Here’s how to choose the right model.

Let managers fix their own problems

March 22, 2015

Even after becoming CEO of SAP, the world’s largest software firm, Bill McDer­­mott never stopped learning. He kept searching for ways to enhance his leadership.

Internal turbulence hampered the Jets

January 29, 2015
For Super Bowl week, here’s a cautionary tale of how tricky it is to lead a team to victory. In 2011, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan lacked the same familiarity running an offense as he did guiding the defense. As a result, he delegated—a bit too much.

Push decision-making to the front lines

November 17, 2014
Many leaders urge employees to take responsibility and make smart decisions. But some leaders interfere by insisting on signing off on those decisions. By delegating well, you can push decision-­making down to the rank-and-file.