{"id":17591,"date":"2025-08-03T11:35:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T16:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iablueprint.com\/staff\/?p=17591"},"modified":"2025-10-17T20:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T01:16:04","slug":"the-leadership-skill-most-founders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iablueprint.com\/staff\/the-leadership-skill-most-founders\/","title":{"rendered":"The Leadership Skill Most Founders Avoid: Delegation\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As you build your business, your role is bound to expand in turn. And the stakes only get higher \u2014 if you drop a ball now, it can have serious consequences for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founders are all too aware of this reality. But too often, instead of asking others for help, they feel even more responsibility to do it all themselves. They double down, working harder rather than working smarter<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On remote teams, delegation can pose special challenges. When you can\u2019t look over someone\u2019s shoulder, you might worry about how you\u2019ll gauge their progress on a new task. But in reality, you shouldn\u2019t be constantly looking over their shoulder anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, delegation means making a new hire. Other times, it means handing over a task to a trusted member of your team. Rather than hiring<\/a> a new employee, you might need to upskill a current one.
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Let\u2019s take a look at why delegation is so crucial for any leader. Then, we\u2019ll delve into strategies for leveraging this core leadership skill to grow your team\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequences of Avoiding Delegation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When leaders avoid delegation, they set themselves up for high levels of stress \u2014 and ultimately, burnout. Moreover, they lack time for the value-generating activities that drive business success, like strategic planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, team outcomes suffer and organizations lack the creative direction that could propel them to the next level. And by conveying a lack of trust in employees, failure to delegate also erodes team culture and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One in 6 leaders is experiencing burnout, which can stem from lack of delegation, a recent report<\/a> by the leadership consulting firm DDI shows. Burnt-out leaders are half as likely to be engaged and 3.5 times more likely to leave their company. But learning to delegate plays a pivotal role in preventing burnout, DDI found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


For these reasons, a full 91% of HR execs<\/a> in the U.S. say delegation is a core leadership skill. Delegation can also help build a foundation of trust with clients<\/a>. By asking a trusted team member for support with client communications, for instance, you can improve the client experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Leaders Struggle to Delegate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you think about delegating a responsibility, do you catch yourself thinking one of these thoughts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n