Delegating Without Losing Yourself

Episode 16 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast exposes why delegating is a necessity in modern work, and why it presents two big dangers. The show includes three strategies for making your delegation more effective and authentic.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:36] - Nobody can do everything or be everywhere. So as you climb the ladder, you have to see delegating as an increasingly necessary part of your leadership.

[01:39] - Delegating has two dangers. You can become disconnected from the work and unmotivated, or your message can get diluted as it goes down the pipeline.

[02:19] - Recommendation #1: Get an amazing core team behind you. Don’t delegate to just anyone or let qualifications be the only reason you give someone a job. You have to find people you trust.

[03:19] - Getting a core team requires you to invest time in relationships.

[03:46] - Jesus and the disciples is a great example of building an effective, intimate core team.

[04:40] - Recommendation #2: Communicate your message clearly and often.

[5:38] - As part of good communication, set yourself up to check in with your core team on a regular basis.

[06:29] - Recommendation #3: Take time to reflect. Make adjustments as necessary and take ownership of your results.

[08:09] - Summary of 3 recommendations.

[08:30] - Effective delegation doesn’t mean a job is unimportant. It is always a demonstration of trust, and the way you thank others for that trust shows them how valuable they are to you. Don’t miss opportunities to show appreciation.

Key takeaways:

• Delegating is necessary because no one can be everywhere or know everything. But it carries a risk of diluting your message and making you feel more disconnected from the work.
• Good delegation requires building a core circle of people you can trust not only as experts, but as friends. They will know who you are in a way that better enables them to do your work. Jesus and His disciples are the best example of core circle development as relates to delegation.
• Clear, consistent communication results in good delegation because it creates a better sense of personal certainty for you about what you’re doing. It also improves accountability because more people are exposed to the message and can internalize it. Checking in with your core circle regularly should be part of this. 
• Reflection should be an ongoing part of the entire delegation process. Start with identifying and connecting to your values. The reflection process helps you analyze the jobs, express their importance, and make improvements. 
• Delegating doesn’t mean a job isn’t important. Make sure people know they have the job because you believe in them, and express genuine gratitude for the work they do.

Relevant Links:

CTAs:

• Invest in relationships to build a core circle you really can trust on a personal level.
• Communicate what you want clearly and often.
• Take time to reflect on your beliefs, priorities, and room for improvement. 

What’s coming up next:

More and more, people have a million things on their plate. The message is super strong that everything is a priority. When it all seems important, how do you pick what to set aside? You’ll learn exactly what questions to ask yourself for good prioritization in Episode 17 of Faithful on the Clock.