When to Let Go: The Delegation Mindset & cultivating it as a Founder

Let’s mix it up a bit today

If I’m being honest, I’m down with a bad cold & fever for the last few days. So I haven’t done the necessary research or action items to create today’s piece.

So instead of regurgitating the usual same action points, let me actually give you a few stories that might convey today’s lessons better

Being a Founder isn’t easy. And it’s even harder with the overwhelming workload & the NEED to do everything by yourself

It's easy to fall into that trap

I know I have - More times than I’m comfortable confessing

However, it's important to remember that delegation can be a powerful tool - A lifesaver

And let me tell you a couple of short stories where delegation didn’t just save a few lives but also changed the course of History

Let me explain

Scenario 1

When the Apollo 13 mission ran into a life-threatening emergency, it was a delegation that ultimately saved the crew.

Flight Director Gene Kranz delegated responsibility to his team of experts, allowing them to use their specialized knowledge to find a solution to the crisis.

By doing so, Kranz was able to guide the team towards a successful recovery and bring the crew safely back to Earth

Scenario 2

During the American Revolution, George Washington recognized the power of delegation.

He knew that he couldn't win the war alone, so he delegated tasks to trusted leaders within his army.

This not only lightened his own workload but also gave his subordinates valuable experience and responsibility, ultimately leading to greater success on the battlefield.

These 2 scenarios seem simple enough that you could pass them off as common sense.

But if you factor in the stakes & the time in which the decisions were taken, you can begin to see the magnitude of the situation & how 2 people changed the course of history by trusting their men & letting go of the NEED we talked about just a few minutes ago

Let me be the devil’s advocate & actually say these were common & perhaps history wouldn’t have altered a bit in absence of Delegation

So, let’s go back again & check out 2 stories where an absence of Delegation ended in a catastrophe

Again, I’m keeping it short to drive home the point & not going deep with the story part

Scenario 1

In 1876, General George Armstrong Custer led an ill-advised attack against the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes at Little Bighorn in Montana.

Custer had only 700 soldiers, while the Native American alliance numbered over 2,000.

Custer had split his forces into three groups, and he led one of these groups himself. He failed to delegate command to his subordinates, which led to confusion and disarray.

Custer and all his men were killed in the battle in the end as a result

Scenario 2

The Panama Canal was built between 1904 and 1914 to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The chief engineer of the project, John Stevens, initially refused to delegate tasks to his subordinates. He insisted on personally overseeing every aspect of the project, from the excavation to the delivery of supplies.

This micromanagement style led to delays, cost overruns, and worker unrest.

After Stevens resigned in 1907, his successor, George Washington Goethals, adopted a more collaborative approach and delegated responsibilities to his team.

This led to increased efficiency and productivity, and the canal was completed on time and under budget.

OK, the second one wasn’t a catastrophe & perhaps I might have gotten carried away. But you got the point! Right?

And this isn’t just limited to historic stories

Many successful & inspirational leaders of the day use Delegation as their main tool. I’ll list a few to drive home my point further

Warren Buffett

The billionaire investor is known for his hands-off management style. He believes in hiring talented people and giving them the autonomy to do their jobs without micromanaging them.

Buffett is famous for only reading annual reports and memos from the CEOs of the companies he invests in, rather than getting involved in the day-to-day operations.

Howard Schultz

The former CEO of Starbucks is another example of a successful delegator.

Schultz believed in hiring the best people and empowering them to make decisions on their own. He also encouraged collaboration and open communication within his team.

One of Schultz's famous delegation stories involves a Starbucks store manager who came up with the idea to put the company's logo on cups, which eventually became a signature element of the brand.

Oprah Winfrey

The media mogul is known for her ability to delegate and trust her team.

She once said, "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."

Winfrey also believes in hiring people who are experts in their field and giving them the freedom to do their jobs without interference.

One example of Oprah's delegation skills is how she trusts her team to produce her highly successful book club, allowing her to focus on other aspects of her business.

Tim Ferriss

The author and entrepreneur is a proponent of the "80/20 rule," which states that 80% of results come from 20% of the effort.

Ferriss believes in delegating tasks that fall outside of that 20% to free up time and mental energy for more important work.

He also recommends hiring virtual assistants and outsourcing non-essential tasks to further streamline productivity.

Sara Blakely

The founder of Spanx has built a successful business by delegating tasks that don't play to her strengths.

Blakely admits that she's not great at managing people, so she's hired experts in that area to take care of human resources and other team-related tasks.

By delegating those responsibilities, Blakely is able to focus on the creative side of her business, like developing new products and marketing campaigns.

If you’re sold on the idea of Delegation, here’s how you do it & actually start letting go

Identify tasks that can be delegated

Successful founders are skilled at identifying tasks that can be effectively delegated.

They understand the importance of focusing on high-value tasks that require their unique skills and expertise.

For example, when Jeff Bezos was CEO of Amazon, he focused on high-level decision-making and left operational tasks to his team.

Assign tasks to the right people

Founders need to delegate tasks to the right people with the skills and expertise to handle them.

For example, when Elon Musk was building SpaceX, he delegated the task of designing the Falcon 1 rocket to a team of engineers led by Tom Mueller. This allowed Musk to focus on fundraising and overall strategy.

Communicate clearly

Founders need to communicate their expectations and goals clearly when delegating tasks.

For example, when Steve Jobs was building the Macintosh, he delegated the task of designing the case to Jerry Manock. Jobs communicated his expectations and goals clearly, and Manock was able to deliver a product that met Jobs' vision.

Provide necessary resources

Founders need to provide the necessary resources, such as time, money, and technology, for their teams to complete delegated tasks effectively.

For example, when Warren Buffett was building Berkshire Hathaway, he delegated the task of managing investments to Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. Buffett provided them with access to the company's financial resources and expertise, which allowed them to make successful investments.

Monitor progress

Founders need to monitor progress to ensure that delegated tasks are on track and goals are being met.

For example, when Oprah Winfrey launched her own TV network, OWN, she delegated the task of running the network to Sheri Salata and Erik Logan. Winfrey monitored the progress of the network and provided guidance and support to her team when needed.

Closing Thoughts

It's worth reflecting on the powerful impact that delegation can have on our lives and businesses.

By learning to delegate effectively, we can free up our time and energy to focus on what truly matters and build the businesses and lives we've always dreamed of

And in the end, isn’t that what this is ALL ABOUT?

Today's newsletter was a little different from the usual, thanks to my cold.

But frankly, I had a lot of fun going through old stories I had read a while ago.

And in true meta fashion, I delegated today’s Newsletter to ChatGPT.

The stories & outline were mine - ChatGPT filled in the rest!

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