The teacher crouches down, eye level with a five-year-old. “Can you put your crayons back in the box?” The child nods but hesitates. The teacher hovers, pointing. “No, not that way—here, let me do it for you.” She guides the small hands, corrects the angle,
Delegation Without Babysitting: How to Lead Adults, Not Kids Read More »
Let’s be honest. How many times have you thought: “If I want this done right, I’ll just do it myself.” We’ve all said it. Sometimes out loud, sometimes under our breath. And in the moment, it feels true. You can probably do it faster. You
You can delegate all the right tasks, set the clearest boundaries, and still feel stuck. Why? Because people don’t grow by tasks alone. They grow when someone helps them reflect, stretch, and believe in their potential. That’s where mentoring and coaching come in. Without them,
The Power of Mentoring and Coaching in Delegation Read More »
You’ve handed off tasks. You’ve set boundaries. You’ve checked in. And yet, you still feel like the bottleneck. Every major decision comes back to you. Every approval, every green light, every final word. Delegation frees your hands, but it doesn’t always free your head. That’s
From Delegation to Empowerment: Unleash Your Team’s Potential Read More »
You’ve delegated a task. You feel lighter. Then, a day later, your teammate shows up at your desk: “I hit a problem. What should I do?” You give a quick answer. The next day, they’re back with another roadblock. Soon, you’re not just advising—you’re doing
Stop Reverse Delegation: Keep the Task with the Owner Read More »
Think back to the last time you gave someone a task. Maybe you explained it quickly before a meeting. Maybe it was a late-night chat message. Maybe you scribbled it down on a sticky note. Then a week later, the result wasn’t what you expected.
Document and Debrief – Learning and Upgrading Delegation Read More »
You’ve just delegated a major task. At first, you feel relieved. But an hour later, your mind starts racing. Did they understand the instructions? What if they miss something? What if the client complains? So you check in. Then you check again. And again. Soon,
Step 5: Agree on Check-Ins – Oversight Without Hovering Read More »
Imagine telling someone, “Run as fast as you can!” but tying weights to their ankles. Or asking them to paint a masterpiece, then handing them only a pencil stub. This is what happens when managers delegate without authority and resources. The person technically “owns” the
Step 4: Give Authority & Resources – Opening Doors for Success Read More »
You’ve probably done it: delegated a task with enthusiasm, told someone “This is yours”, and stepped back. A week later, what comes back makes your stomach drop. What went wrong? You gave freedom without rules. Delegation without boundaries isn’t empowerment—it’s chaos. Why Boundaries Matter In
Step 3: Set Boundaries – The Rules of the Delegation Game Read More »
You hand off a task, and deep down you’re thinking: “I hope they don’t mess this up.” Sometimes it works. Sometimes it backfires. And when it does, you swear: “Never again. I’ll just do it myself.” That’s not leadership. That’s gambling. Most managers delegate by
Step 2: Place the Task on the Matrix – Risk vs. Readiness Read More »
You’ve felt it before. You delegate a task, expecting relief. Instead, what comes back makes you sigh: incomplete, off-track, or worse—completely different from what you asked for. You wanted freedom. What you got was double work. Most managers blame the person: “They didn’t listen. They
Step 1: Define the Result – The “Done” Statement Read More »
You’ve probably said it before: “I thought I delegated that.” But the result that came back wasn’t what you expected. The deadline was missed. The deliverable fell short. You ended up redoing the work yourself. Frustration builds—for you and for your team. The problem isn’t
The 7-Step Delegation Game: Your Guide to Clear Handoffs Read More »
Learn the true meaning of real delegation—not just assigning tasks, but transferring ownership and trust. Discover practical ways leaders can delegate effectively, build accountability, and grow capable teams. Written by Jef Menguin, leadership speaker and transformation designer.
Beyond Assigning Tasks: What Real Delegation Looks Like Read More »
You wake up with a list of things you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s a new strategy, a client pitch, or a long-overdue one-on-one with a team member. But by mid-morning, that list has vanished. Emails flood in. Calls stack up. People line up at
Stop Firefighting, Start Leading: The Delegation Game Explained Read More »