I have a confession to make. It is something that I am terrible at doing and it is holding me back from being an effective leader. I have a very difficult time delegating. I come from the school of mind where “If you want something done well, do it yourself.” Part of it as well is that I hate to ask others to do things. As a result, my plate is always overflowing and I am stressed out. I am also not living in my strength zone, because I am doing things that while I am competent at they can be done more effectively by someone else. I want to make three observations about delegation that I have been attempting to take to heart.
- By not delegating you are depriving someone else of a blessing. Within the context of the church we preach the “priesthood of all believers,” which means that God has given gifts to every person to exercise. By working outside of your gift mix and not delegating to someone who is more gifted in that area, you are for all intents and purposes depriving them of the blessing that comes from using their gifts and talents. So that adage that I used to live by, “If you want something done well, do it yourself,” is not biblical. Instead it should be, “If you want something done well, find someone who is gifted in that area to do it.
- By not delegating you are not being effective in your life. It stands to reason that if you work within those areas which are your strengths, you are going to get more done and more done effectively. I would like to submit more fulfilled and happy as well. When I am doing something that I am qualified to do and enjoy doing, then I am feeling fulfilled. The moment that I am doing something that should have been delegated I become frustrated, and it doesn’t get done well.
- The rule of thumb for delegation. A good rule of thumb is if someone can do it 80 percent or better then you can hand it off. [1] Let me give you a quick example. Allen Weber, who is a Joshua’s Men alumni, is a Microsoft Excel guru. He can make Excel do things, I’m not even sure Bill Gates knows it can do. I have used Excel and can do basic things, but not the things he knows how to do. I have realized that if I need to do any Excel “heavy lifting,” instead of me spending hours and hours trying to figure out how to do it, I give it to Allen because that is his gift. If you ask him, being able to work in his “wheelhouse” is so fulfilling. So if you have people around you that are 80 percent or better at things, delegate. It will allow you keep your priorities focused, and stay within your strength zone.
“If you want to increase your focus and become effective on a level you’ve never experienced before, then make a decision to prioritize your life and manage the discipline of priorities every day.”
Conversation:
What areas of your life do you have a hard time delegating in? Work, home, church?
[1] Today Matters, 76
[2] Today Matters, 78
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Overload is not having time to finish the book you are reading on stress. Margin is having time to read it twice. Overload is fatigue. Margin is energy. Overload is red ink. Margin is black ink. Overload is hurry. Margin is calm. Overload is anxiety. Margin is security. Overload is the disease of our time. Margin is the cure. Margin is the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. It is something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. In Margin, Dr. Richard Swenson provides a prescription against the danger of overloaded lives. Focusing on margin in four key areas-emotional energy, physical energy, time, and finances-he offers an overall picture of health that employs contentment, simplicity, balance, and rest. If you yearn for relief from the pain and pressure of overload, take a lifelong dose of Margin. The benefits of good health, financial stability, fulfilling relationships, and availability for Gods purposes will follow you all your days.