Delegating: What Everyone Gets Wrong About One of Leadership’s Open Secrets

Article by Herb Kimble.

No one can do it all themselves, and being a great leader means recognizing your own shortcomings. You are in charge of a project and the resources you need to complete it. Are you utilizing everything you need to find success? Remember, it’s not just your shoulders but the entire project is at stake. Learning to delegate is the open secret to success but few people truly understand how to leverage it effectively.

Doing More with Less

One of the best things a leader can do for the organization is to learn to recognize his own strengths. This often means a clear understanding of what you’re best at and prioritizing that work. Delegation then becomes an exercise in pairing those best suited to tasks with the challenges they can accomplish well.

Delegation therefore involves understanding. You need to be in touch with your team and your resources, so you never over extend or find yourself stuck with the wrong course of action.

Commitment is Key

Delegation is not a set and forget action. You need to consider the follow through of the work you’re tasking others to complete. Deadlines play an important role in establishing that commitment, but they must be realistic in nature. Instant delivery expectations lead to crunch, a failure in management.

Structure your milestones to allow for the time your team needs to do its work properly.

Delegate with Purpose

Now that you understand how to delegate with purpose, go and get the job done!

Bio: Herb Kimble is both an entrepreneur and a film and television producer. His roots as an accomplished actor gave him a passion for the arts. Today, Herb Kimble is co-founder of CineFocus Productions and launching Urban Flix, an inclusive streaming company based in Los Angeles.