People & HR · Lesson 4
Delegating without losing control
Hand over the outcome, agree the check-ins, and resist taking it back.
Busy leaders often say 'it's faster if I do it'. That is true once, and false every time after. Delegation frees your time for work only you can do. The key is to delegate outcomes with clear limits, not to dump tasks.
Use a simple briefing: what result you need, by when, why it matters, what decisions they can make alone, and when you will check in. Agree the level of authority: (1) research and report back, (2) recommend and I decide, (3) decide and tell me, (4) decide alone.
Expect the first attempt to be different from how you would do it. Judge it on the result, not the method. When it falls short, coach — ask what they would change — instead of redoing it yourself. Taking work back teaches people to wait for you.
Example — Hypothetical: delegating a client report
'Please prepare the quarterly progress report for the Lekki client by Thursday noon. They care most about budget and timing. You can choose the format; check figures with finance. Let's review a draft Wednesday at 4pm.' Clear result, deadline, authority and check-in.
Try this
List three recurring tasks you still do yourself. Choose one and brief someone using the five points above this week.
Reflect
What is one decision you keep making that someone on your team could make well with a little guidance?