Many of us know the benefits of delegation: It helps teams share the workload so that managers focus on the work only they can do. But in reality, you (like most managers) probably hoard tasks and become a bottleneck. To fix that, start with baby steps. Ask yourself regularly, even daily: “What can I, and only I, do?” If a certain task could be done by someone else, maybe it should be. Try to delegate small tasks that add up to something bigger, or projects that are relatively simple. Also consider time-sensitive work that competes with your other priorities. If you’re still struggling to delegate, try this: For two weeks, make a list of tasks that you might delegate, writing them down as you think of them. This exercise will get you one step closer to handing off the work you need to.
Adapted from "How to Decide Which Tasks to Delegate," by Jenny Blake
