ABSTRACT
Technically, delegating is the "sharing or transfer of authority and the associated responsibility, from an employer or superior to an employee or subordinate". Delegating strategically involves sharing both authority and responsibility with someone else. Assigning responsibility to others without also empowering them typically indicates a lack of trust on the leader's part. When a leader delegates responsibility without authority, he actually disempowers people—they have more work to do without the faith or freedom from their leader to complete the tasks. Typically, trust is part of delegation. First, readers need to trust others in order to delegate a task or assignment to them. As they complete the assignment, trust is strengthened. Over time, readers develop a working relationship based on having the assurance that tasks will be completed and completed well. The following are three key ideas for delegating strategically: consider fit, provide direction and extend freedom with follow-up.
