Alloy Solutions Leadership Blog
Tips and tools to help you thrive at work.
The Case for Delegating: Because Faster Isn't Always Better
“We haven’t trained Jake on that yet, so I’m handling it.”
“I don’t have time to explain it right now. It’s faster if I just do it myself.”
“Sarah has so much going on already. I feel bad putting more on her plate.”
I have heard managers give all kinds of reasons for why they aren’t delegating, but it usually comes down to this: I know I should delegate more, but it’s faster if I just do it myself.
It’s one of the most dangerous leadership traps out there, and here’s why: You’re probably right.
Actually, that’s not quite true. You’re probably right… for today.
The Bank of Tomorrow
When I speak to leaders, the biggest factor that keeps them from delegating more often is time. If I had a nickel for every time I heard something to the effect of “It’s just faster if I do it myself,” I would be writing this article from atop a throne of nickels. This challenge is especially strong for front-line managers, who are often tasked with managing work they used to do themselves and are stil...
