Adopt a delegation Mindset: why “doing it yourself” is hurting your leadership
Recently, I polled my LinkedIn Community and asked, “What is the main reason you don’t delegate?”
The winner: Saves time if I just do it.
When faced with a task that we could delegate, we often tell ourselves the same mantra: “It’s faster if I just do it myself.” While this might seem true in the moment, it’s a mindset that can hold you back as a leader and slow down your team in the long run. When the temptation occurs to fall into this habit, recognize the negative impacts of this short-term, limiting belief and shift your mindset to how delegating can have long-term, beneficial gains for you and your team.
Here’s five new mantras to replace the “do it yourself” belief and how to frame it from a harmful to helpful mindset:
1. I’m Stifling Team Growth -> I’m Investing in Team Growth
By doing everything yourself, you're stifling the development of your team. Delegation is one of the most effective ways to teach new skills and empower your team to take ownership. If you're constantly doing tasks that your team could (or should) be doing, they miss out on learning opportunities that could also impact opportunities for advancement.
Shift your mindset from Stifling to Investing:
Instead of focusing on how quickly you can get something done, consider the long-term benefit of teaching a team member how to handle the task. The upfront time investment will pay off in a more capable, confident team.
2. I’m Overworking Myself -> I’m Freeing Myself
When you refuse to delegate, you unnecessarily pile more on your plate. This can lead to burnout, stress, and a drop in productivity. No matter how capable you are, there’s a limit to how much you can take on—and constantly doing it all will eventually affect the quality of your work. This can also get in the way of new and exciting projects or ideas that stretch your own creativity and development.
Shift your mindset from Overworking to Freeing:
Recognize that leadership isn’t about doing more; it’s about leveraging the strengths of others. Freeing yourself from lower-priority tasks allows you to focus on higher-level strategic initiatives. Imagine what you could do with all the time you will reclaim!
3. I’m Perpetuating Bottleneck -> I’m Preventing Bottlenecks
By keeping tasks to yourself, you're slowing down your team’s progress. What happens when you're out of the office or tied up in meetings? Now everyone is waiting on you. This can frustrate the team, reduce morale, and impact overall efficiency.
Shift your mindset from Creating to Preventing:
Think of delegation as a way to keep things moving. When tasks are spread out and team members are empowered, work continues—even in your absence. That’s how high-performing teams operate and thrive.
4. I’m Sending the Wrong Message -> I’m Sending the Right Message
By not delegating, you may unintentionally communicate that you don’t trust your team to handle important tasks. This can damage relationships, undermine their confidence, and create a culture of micromanagement.
Shift your mindset from Wrong to Right:
Trust is foundational to leadership. Delegate not just to offload work, but to show that you have faith in your team’s abilities. When employees feel trusted, they’re more motivated and engaged.
5. I’m Missing the Big Picture -> I’m Achieving the Big Picture
The more time you spend on tasks that others can handle, the less time you have for strategic thinking, innovation, and long-term planning. Leadership is about seeing the big picture and steering your team toward success, not getting bogged down in the details.
Shift your mindset from Missing to Fulfilling:
Ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time?” If the answer is no, delegate. Your focus should be on guiding the team, setting direction, and making decisions that have a bigger impact on the organization.
DOWNLOAD THIS INFOGRAPHIC TO KEEP DELEGATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND!
5 Tips for Effective Delegation:
Now that you are in the delegation mindset, here are five tips to remember as you get you and your team moving:
1. Start small: If you’re new to delegation, start by handing off smaller tasks to your team. As they succeed, you’ll gain confidence to delegate more.
2. Provide clear instructions: If you’re afraid tasks will be done poorly, provide clear guidance and allow time for questions so your team can succeed.
3. Be patient: If you’re worried about the time it takes to delegate, remember this is worth the short-term investment, freeing you for higher-value activities as your team handles these delegated assignments.
4. Accept imperfection: Your team may not do things exactly as you would, and that’s okay. Different approaches can still lead to great results and will continue to improve over time.
5. Follow up and give feedback: After delegating, follow up to ensure the task is on track and provide constructive feedback. This helps your team grow and builds trust in the process (for you and for them).
Bottom Line:
As a leader, delegation is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. While it might seem quicker to do things yourself in the short term, over time, it limits your team, creates bottlenecks, and prevents you from focusing on what really matters. By shifting your mindset and embracing delegation, you’ll empower your team, reduce your own workload, and drive better results for your organization.