For a leader to achieve great things for the company and himself or herself, they must learn how to delegate. And the first step to this is to learn how to trust people. So, how do you trust people? Spend time getting to know them and what they can bring to the table.
Delegation becomes painful and unsuccessful because of distrust. Leaders who do not delegate tasks end up exhausted. Since he is doing all of the tasks that should have been done by a team, he can easily get burnt out. He is also undermining the capabilities and growth of his able and skilled team members, making them all unproductive.
A 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that approximately 79% of Americans feel that their fellow citizens have little trust in each other. This data may be another reality put under a magnifying glass. But it speaks a lot about how people operate in their relationships, may it be work or personal.
Delegation in the Workplace
First and foremost, he or she must be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each member of his team. After this, he must be able to pair these strengths to tasks that need to be done. To address the weaknesses of each member, an effective leader should be able to provide opportunities to turn weaknesses into acquired skills.
There is no limit to what a human being can achieve if he sets his mind to it. The same thing is true when it comes to human weaknesses. Let us say you are not good with numbers, and that is your weakness. If you put your will to it, you can slowly learn to love numbers by taking on tasks that will allow you to explore your mathematical side. Start with small jobs and celebrate small victories. In no time, you will stop considering this to be a weakness.
Appreciate Each Team Member
Delegation is also easier done if the team leader appreciates the effort, output, and contributions of each member of the team. If you know that these people even put their name on the line to complete their tasks, value them more as workers and team members.
If you get past that “I only trust myself” mindset, you can appreciate what others are capable of. If you start trusting others, you will see that they, too, are just as committed to the company as you. You also get to see that these people care about their output and their contribution to the team. By seeing these qualities in all members of the group, you boost the team’s morale and foster a positive work environment. The fact that you trust them with crucial tasks sends a message that you value them as part of your team.
If people feel that they are essential and valued, they tend to deliver more than what is required. If people think that their superiors trust them with important tasks, they also try to grow and prove that they are indeed worthy of such trust. At the end of the day, you are not only completing a task or hitting a team quota, but you are also helping other people to grow personally and professionally.
Final Thoughts
It is easy to distrust people, but as a leader, you should see the good in each member of your team. In does not matter if you have to dig in piles of dirt; the gold that you will find along the way will make all the effort worth it.
