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One of the biggest mistakes I made early in my leadership career was thinking I needed to show my work all the time. And by that I mean I had to prove I could do everything myself.
Spoiler: That led to burnout, missed opportunities for my team, and me feeling stuck in the weeds.
Here’s how I fixed it, and how you can too.
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1. Get clear on what only you can do. Not everything on your to-do list requires you. Focus on strategic tasks, mentoring, and decisions that need your leadership. Hand off the rest.
2. Delegate outcomes, not tasks. Don’t just assign a checklist. Share the “why” behind the work. This empowers your team to think critically and find creative solutions on their own.
3. Trust, but don’t disappear. Delegation isn’t “set it and forget it.” Check in without micromanaging. Offer guidance, remove blockers, and celebrate their wins.
4. Embrace imperfection. Your team will likely approach things differently than you would, and that’s a good thing. It’s refreshing. Growth happens when people have the space to experiment, fail, and learn.
When you delegate effectively, you create space to lead. Your team grows, your stress drops, and everyone wins.