Help People Make Good Decisions

Good delegation isn't what we think it is

At Work:

Delegation, let's face it, isn't always the easiest part of being a manager. Even if you desperately need to take things off your plate, it can feel pretty uncomfortable to let go of the reins, cross your fingers, and hope someone else does the job exactly how you need them too. Spoiler alert: They probably won't. They’ll make mistakes and do things in a weird way that doesn’t make sense to you, and sometimes follow a timeline that stresses you out. As a manager, the temptation to swoop in and regain control can be strong. But this approach isn't satisfying and drains you of the very energy you were trying to preserve by delegating in the first place.

Good delegation should feel like a win-win. It should make you feel good because it freed up time and brain space. It should make your team feel good because they’ve been trust and a have an opportunity to cultivate agency.

Good delegation is about helping people make good decisions on behalf of you your team.

When you give your people the space, tools, and a little guidance to make choices that align with your team's goals and values, magical things happen. You free up your own energy, and if you’ve hired well, your team will probably make better calls than you ever could on your own. Plus, you end up with motivated, happier employees. People love having agency in life and at work, and when they're given opportunities to make their managers proud instead of ticking boxes for occasional pats on the back, it's a win-win.

I like to think that pride is the ultimate sign of good delegation— and that pride you get from trusting your team is a very special gift.

Few things in the working world can compare to the joy of stepping back and watching your team crush it, turning the daily grind into something incredibly satisfying, rewarding, and that simply feels good.

Which brings me to my next point…

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At Leisure:

Since we’re on the subject of things that feel good, it feels only right to turn our attention to (my fave) Jessie Ware’s fifth album, That! Feels Good! In my opinion, it’s a great work soundtrack, if you like to make your workspace feel like a cheeky and chic disco (I do). And in the context of this newsletter, Begin Again feels like a fab workers anthem.

While you’re at it, pop on What’s Your Pleasure, an album that is truly hard to top in my books. Remember Where You Are is on constant repeat in my happy place!

Enjoy x