It is not unusual to hear leaders complain that they have too much to do and too little
time to do it. If those feelings are not addressed, it can lead to stress, ineffectiveness and
burnout. One approach executives could do to reduce their stress is to practice the
management skill of delegating.
Inability to Delegate Can Led to Burnout
Burnout can occur on all management levels, from the top managers to first-line
supervisors. Successful businesses practice, regardless of size, mastering the art of
delegating.
Historically, delegating has been a vertical process, with managers delegating to
subordinates in a clearly defined hierarchical structure. Today’s successful businesses
are emphasizing both horizontal and vertical delegating.
In addition, with emphasis on teamwork, the ability to influence and delegate to others
has become critical to team’s success.
Avoid Judging
Sometimes there can be the tendency for managers and supervisors to have the
perception that their direct reports might have too much work to do and don’t want to
add more to their list so they don’t delegate.
However, try not to judge what another person is capable of accomplishing. If you are
wrong about the workload, it ends up depriving them of the opportunity to stretch and
grow.
Keep in mind that the goal of delegating is to train to free you up so you can use your
time and talents where it can make the biggest difference.