Common Mistakes Leaders Make When Delegating

I've worked with 1,000+ leaders over the last 3 years. Most make the same common mistakes. Except for the best ones. → They build on the lessons of others. → They build empowered teams. → They build lean systems. Because the best mistakes? Are the ones you avoid. Here are the 9 that trip managers up constantly. Drowning in Work → You're working 60+ hours and have no time for your team → Fix: Daily "Power Hour" - 60 mins of editing and delegating Staying in The Spotlight → You're still doing the work instead of enabling others to excel → Fix: Track time coaching delegating each week Ineffective Feedback → Your feedback creates defensiveness instead of growth → Fix: Use SBI method (Situation-Behavior-Impact) + clear next steps Missing Early Warning Signs → Problems explode because you spot them too late → Fix: Triangulate: review metrics, talk to one customer and one skip-level No Management System → Your days are chaotic and reactive instead of structured → Fix: Three non-negotiable: expectations, 1:1s, feedback Excluding Teams from Decisions → You make quick decisions alone that fail in execution → Fix: "Co-Author" rule - team proposes, you refine, everyone owns Tolerating Toxic Talent → High-performing a$$holes are driving away good team members → Fix: Monthly culture impact reviews alongside performance metrics Information Hoarding → Critical knowledge lives only in your head → Fix: Weekly lunch-and-learns plus Leadership Loom wrap-ups Reactive Calendar Management → Your calendar runs you instead of serving you → Fix: Time-block using 40-40-20 rule: team time, deep work, flexibility These mistakes are all too common. They're also 100% avoidable. Simple systems consistently outperform good intentions. What mistakes did I miss? Or what fix are you going to try? Please repost ♻️ to help other leaders and follow Dave Kline 🔔 for more.

I've been watching leaders sabotage their own success for decades. Here's the pattern I keep seeing: Manager gives task to team member → task doesn't get done right → manager jumps in to "fix it" → team member never learns → manager feels overwhelmed because their time is sucked into fixing it → cycle repeats and escalates. This happens at startups and Fortune 500 companies alike. It's a universal leadership challenge. Why? One reasson is we're all terrible mind readers. The solution isn't more lunches or team building exercises. It's not working harder. It's consistent, sync sessions - specifically structured 1:1 meetings. What leaders actually want: - Team members who "get it" - People who take ownership - Work that gets done without constant supervision - Trust that when they delegate, it happens But leaders sabotage themselves by: 1. Jumping in to "do it right" (which teaches the team they'll never measure up) 2. Only delegating work that will be done "exactly how I'd do it" (impossible standard) 3. Avoiding the discomfort of developing leadership skills 4. Failing to address core problems directly The math of trust is simple: Trust = Time + Consistency When you implement weekly 1:1s with the same format as your business operating system (whether EOS, OKRs or something else), you create a accountability loop that helps everyone. Use the same measurables, rocks, and goals you'd review in your weekly and quarterly team meetings, just personalized to their role. By having these meetings consistently, even when it feels like you "don't have anything to discuss," you're building trust. You're creating space to address issues before they become fires. You're teaching your team exactly how they contribute to business success. I see this work time and again - leaders who make this simple change transform from overwhelmed doers to empowered leaders. It's one reason why we committed to making great 1 on 1 meetings simple and easy in ResultMaps. What's your biggest challenge with delegation? Is it the letting go or the follow-through?

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. “I thought they understood…” “I didn’t want to burden them…” “I assumed they knew how to do it…” As an executive coach working with senior leaders across industries, I see this pattern every single week. 👉 Delegation is not about dumping. 👉 It’s not about detailing every step. 👉 And it’s definitely not about doing it yourself because “no one else gets it.” 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿: Transferring clarity, confidence, and responsibility. Here’s how I explain it in my D.N.A. of Influence™ coaching framework: 🔍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴: They assume instructions are clear without confirmation. They delegate without verifying if the person has the skills. They hold back critical tasks because they don’t trust outcomes. They either micromanage every small detail or completely disappear. They skip check-ins, then panic when the final outcome is off track. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁? 🟥 Overload. 🟥 Disengaged team. 🟥 Loss of credibility. 🟥 Bottlenecks in execution. ✅ What high-trust leaders do instead: Confirm understanding every single time – even if it feels redundant. Match tasks to team members' strengths and verify their readiness. Provide autonomy, but don’t disappear—stay available. Share high-stakes projects, not just routine admin. Follow up consistently, not just when things break. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: A conscious act of empowerment with accountability. In my coaching sessions, we go deeper into: ✅ Need Alignment – What drives the person you’re delegating to? ✅ Influence without Control – How to empower without micromanaging. ✅ Language of Trust – What to say (and what not to say) when handing over responsibility. ✅ Feedback Loops – How to course-correct without demoralizing. 🎯 If you’re a senior leader tired of doing everything yourself… …Or if you’ve delegated and still ended up doing the heavy lifting… 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲™ 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲. You’ll learn the same tools I’ve used to help executives: ✔ Build trust with their teams ✔ Free up hours every week ✔ And finally lead at the level they’re paid for. Let’s make leadership lighter—and more effective. #Influence #peakimpactmentorship  #DNAofInfluence #leadership

Most leaders make these delegation mistakes. Do you? Delegation is a crucial skill for a leader. And it’s one that’s easy to mess up. This can harm both productivity and morale. I know because I’ve made every mistake multiple times. After 10+ years leading teams and overcoming my own delegation challenges, Here are the 8 biggest delegation mistakes and how to fix them: 1) Unclear Goals   ↳ Don’t just assign tasks - set SMART goals so expectations are clear   ↳ Clear communication is key to alignment 2) Micromanaging   ↳ Resist the urge to control everything - give autonomy within boundaries   ↳ Trust your team to handle responsibility 3) Mismatched Skills   ↳ Align tasks to strengths - train to fill skill gaps   ↳ Ensure everyone is set up for success 4) Lack of Follow-Up   ↳ Check progress frequently - use tools to track work   ↳ Maintain accountability without hovering 5) Inadequate Support   ↳ Ensure access to all resources needed to succeed   ↳ Provide tools and information to excel 6) Overloading Stars   ↳ Distribute work evenly - rotate responsibilities   ↳ Prevent burnout and maintain engagement 7) Ignoring Feedback   ↳ Encourage input - improve processes through feedback   ↳ Make everyone feel valued and heard 8) No Recognition   ↳ Acknowledge achievements - incentivize great work   ↳ Foster a culture of appreciation Effective delegation requires: - Realistic timelines - Clear communication  - Empowering your team - Developing trust Strategic delegation is crucial for leaders. Avoid these mistakes to build an empowered, productive team! P.S. What delegation challenges have you faced as a leader? Share your lessons learned! — ♻️ Repost to help leaders delegate effectively! ➕ Follow me Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉