“How’s that project coming along?” the leader asked.
“I’m waiting to hear back from the supplier,” came the reply.
Wrong answer.
If they’re waiting, they’re not owning. If they’re explaining why something isn’t happening, they’ve missed the point of leadership.
Proper delegation isn’t handing off tasks. It’s transferring ownership. When a leader gives someone responsibility, they’re saying: “I’m leaving this with you.”
Those five words represent complete trust. The leader shouldn’t need to follow up. They shouldn’t have to remind anyone. They shouldn’t be required to check the work. They’ve trusted someone with both execution and accountability.
Many leaders think they’re delegating when they’re merely assigning. They distribute tasks but retain the mental load – the planning, tracking, worrying, and ensuring completion.
That’s not delegation. It’s babysitting with extra steps.
If the leader has to solve problems others encounter, if they must push for progress, if they become the bottleneck waiting for updates – they might as well have kept the task themselves.
This simple principle transforms organizations. It liberates leaders from being the ceiling on their company’s growth. It empowers teams to think like owners rather than order-takers.
The handoff should be clean. The responsibility should be clear. The accountability should be unquestioned.
“I’m leaving this with you” means:
- They’ll handle roadblocks without escalating every challenge
- They’ll communicate proactively, not when asked
- They’ll bring solutions, not just problems
- They’ll treat this as if their name is on the door
IBM legend Thomas Watson Jr. put it plainly: “I never worry about action, but only about inaction.”
A leadership philosophy must include how responsibility is transferred. Without this clarity, growth is forever capped by the leader’s own capacity.
What are leaders holding onto that should be entirely owned by someone else?
