Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Do you find yourself holding onto tasks because you believe nobody else can do them “right”?
If you’re nodding, you’re definitely not alone—I’ve been there myself. As a leader, delegation can sometimes feel risky. You worry about losing control or quality slipping through your fingers. But holding too tight could cost you dearly: your time, your team’s growth, and even your mental wellbeing.
Here’s the good news—learning to delegate effectively can completely change your work-life balance and your team’s success.
Know When and What to Delegate
Not all tasks should be delegated. Knowing the difference between tasks to keep and those to pass on is a key step. Generally, I look for routine, teachable tasks that align with my team’s strengths. For instance, if you’re frequently stuck managing admin duties, delegating these can free you to focus on strategy or bigger-picture leadership tasks. Harvard Business School has great advice on deciding what to delegate.
Clarity Is Everything
Effective delegation hinges on clarity. When delegating, I make sure everyone knows the what, the why, and most importantly, the how. Setting clear expectations reduces confusion and frustration. One method I always recommend is breaking the task into clear steps, specifying timelines, and defining how success looks.
For a deeper dive into structuring task allocation, check out how you can allocate tasks clearly within your team.
Trust and Verify
Once you’ve handed over a task, it’s tempting to constantly check in. But trust your team. Give them space to do the work and set regular, scheduled check-ins rather than random spot checks. This maintains accountability without micromanagement. Building trust is essential—and something I’ve explored further in my previous article about trust as the cornerstone of effective leadership.
Match the Task to the Person
Delegation works best when you play to your team’s strengths. If someone is great with details, delegate precise tasks requiring attention to detail. If another excels at people skills, assign tasks involving interaction and collaboration. During Reddit discussions, many leaders agree that the biggest success factor is matching tasks to strengths and interests. I completely resonate with this approach—people naturally perform better when they’re engaged.
Use Delegation to Develop Skills
Delegating isn’t just about getting things off your plate; it’s an opportunity to grow your team. If a team member wants more responsibility, delegating challenging tasks helps them develop new skills. According to this Forbes article, delegation is a leadership imperative because it actively grows capability within your team.
Be Approachable and Open to Feedback
Delegation is a two-way street. I always encourage my team to ask questions or raise concerns. Being approachable ensures tasks run smoothly and promotes psychological safety—a concept I’m deeply passionate about. If you’re interested in creating an environment where your team feels comfortable speaking up, explore our psychological safety leadership solutions.
Let Go of Perfection
This is a tough one—I know from personal experience. Delegating effectively means accepting that your team might approach tasks differently than you would. Different isn’t wrong; it’s just different. It may even be better.
As I often remind leaders I coach, focusing too much on perfection can slow you down. It’s essential to find balance—maintaining high standards without being rigid about methods.
Manage Your Time Wisely
One huge benefit of delegation is gaining control over your own schedule. Once you’re delegating effectively, you’ll find yourself with more time for strategic thinking and leading intentionally. You can read more about strategies to better organise your time in my article on mastering time management.
Recognise and Celebrate Successes
Recognition reinforces delegation. When someone does a great job with a delegated task, celebrate that openly. A simple “thank you” or acknowledging their work publicly can go a long way in boosting confidence and encouraging ownership.
If you need help setting up effective delegation processes in your team, you can always reach out to me directly or learn more about our tailored leadership coaching and training.
Delegation can seem tricky at first, but mastering it pays huge dividends. Your team grows, your workload becomes manageable, and your organisation thrives. Ready to delegate more effectively? Start today, one task at a time.
Please click the image below if you’d like to chat about what leadership means to you
If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams