8 common delegation mistakes and how to fix them

Are you making one of these deadly delegation mistakes?

One assertion I make is that many school leaders are not meeting their potential because they had poor models of what school leadership looks like.

They’re doing the best they can with what they know.

But you are reading this message because you are invested in improving your leadership. That’s what makes you a Ruckus Maker.

So today I wanted to cover the most common mistakes I see when it comes to delegation and how to fix it.

Mistake #1: Micro-managing

Your people hate it. You hate doing it. So don’t. The whole point of delegation is to hand-off a project or task to your team. If you are involved every step of the way, what is the point of delegating?

How to fix this mistake: Provide training on a delegated task (e.g. meeting, checklist, video, etc.) and do the hard work to learn to trust your team. Each individual Ruckus Maker is unique so I don’t know what generally that will take, but you must learn to trust!

Mistake #2: Delegation is (rarely) abdication

In my “Delegation Masterclass” I teach the 6 levels of delegation. Only at Level 6 are you not involved at all. Feedback loops are important and your team should understand what success looks like, what the milestones are, and when you’d like a check-in.

How to fix this mistake: Communicate if your team can complete the project on their own or if they are investigating options and presenting you with what they feel is the best solution.

Mistake #3: Ridiculous expectations

Leaders should be curious about their team’s capacity and what other projects they are working on. If you add to the plate, what will you remove? Sprint sessions can be effective and yes, we all can accomplish much more than we think we are capable of. Asking your team to turn water into wine most likely won’t happen anytime soon. Manage your expectations.

How to fix this mistake: Ask how your team feels about the project. Is the deadline and outcomes reasonable? What challenges do they see (before starting) and how can you help?

Mistake #4: Vague expectations

Be crystal clear in defining what success looks like. Do you include all the resources needed? Is there a process to follow? Has the complete request been communicated? People cannot read your mind so be as thorough on the front end of delegation if you want smooth sailing on the back end.

How to fix this mistake: Before beginning the project specifically define the BEST and WORST case scenario for the project. Paint a vivid picture of what success looks like before beginning.

Mistake #5: Strengths mismatch

Ideally you delegate projects and tasks aligned with your team’s strengths. The more you can do that the more successful everyone will be.?

How to fix this mistake: Have your team take the Kolbe A assessment and match projects to their strengths.

Mistake #6: Lack of clarity + connection

It helps to express why a certain project or task matters and how it fits into the overall vision for your organization. Connecting the dots helps people see purpose and why their contribution is valuable. No one wants to work on stuff that seems not to matter.

How to fix this mistake: Answer these questions … What do you want to accomplish? What’s your motivation? What is the difference this project will make? What impact will this have??

Mistake #7: Lack of feedback loops

Feedback is essential. When do you want to check-in with the team? When should they contact you? How will they know they are on the right track? Schedule time to provide feedback and put it on your calendar.

How to fix this mistake: Something you can communicate on the front end of delegation is explaining when you want to be looped in. What are the milestones for your project? Is there a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly check-in?

Mistake#8: No celebration

This one is a pet peeve of mine. It is incredibly deflating to work hard on a project and produce the desired result only to have the leader mutter, “You’re just doing your job …” if the leader says anything at all. Celebrate your team for the results they create or they will start to look for a place that does see and celebrate their contributions.

How to fix this mistake: Plan how you’ll celebrate a job well done prior to getting started. This will also incentivize the team to do their best.

Ready to multiply your impact?

Delegation is just one way to multiply yourself and the results you create on campus.

At The Sustainable School Leadership Summit we'll look at other ways you can lead a high impact school as well.

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