Delegation…

Delegation is one of the hardest things you learn as a leader (and parent) but also the most rewarding.

Delegation is hard because it takes away your control. You have to get comfortable, not knowing exactly how something is going to get done.

Delegation is hard because it requires you to communicate clearly. You have to not only know what you want, but be able to explain it to the person who will actually make it happen.

Delegation is hard because it requires an investment in time upfront. You have to be willing to spend the time making sure that the people you will be delegating to are equipped to do what needs to be done.

As with a lot of things in my life, a random moment with my children reminded me of one of the most important the leadership lessons I learned well before I was a parent. Last week as I watched these two amazing humans navigate from the park-and-ride through security and all the way to the gate in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, I was reminded that the payoff for delegation is what makes it worth it.

If you are unfamiliar with the Atlanta airport, let me just tell you that navigating from the car to the gate is not a walk in the park, but now that they are only a few years away from (hopefully) being independent travelers, I have confidence in them. When the children were smaller, I invested the time to make sure they weren’t just following along, but we’re part of the journey.

As a leader, are you investing your energy in ensuring that your team isn’t just following you, but is learning and growing?