You must think that I am crazy as you read the title of this article. With the busy lives we live, delegating is such an important part of our day. In fact, it is what we have been hearing from our mentors and supervisors throughout our entire career. We are practically wired to delegate at this point.
Now, why do I say that delegation is a thing of the past? If we look at what makes a true leader, versus what makes a manager, we know by now that the list can be long. For the sake of context, here are just a few. Leaders inspire their people to follow because they want to and not because they have to. Leaders are strong at creating and communicating their vision instead of simply setting goals for others to achieve.
While leaders are change agents; managers love to keep the status quo. Leaders are confident enough to try new things and evaluate the possible risk, while managers tend to control risk all together. Leaders are unique, while managers are typically a copy of someone else. Leaders empower, managers delegate. You get the point...
Michele Kline 09/2023