Lead Strong: Leadership Lessons From The Bible - Part 2Sample

Leaders Delegate

I have control issues. I pretend I’m super laid back. But I’m not. It’s much cooler to be laid back than to have opinion domination issues. But that’s where I’m at.

When it comes to delegation, I know all the right things, but actually doing them is a different challenge.

What holds me back from delegating? Brace yourself for a truckload of hard-to-admit-truth.

1. I know how I want things done; I’m picky. I wonder if people can do it as well as me.
2. I don’t have time to involve others. It takes time to delegate tasks. Finding time to teach, instruct, and explain feels daunting.
3. I hate delegating what I consider busy work. I stink at administrative stuff so I struggle handing off administrative tasks thinking everyone despises those jobs just like I do.
4. I don’t like delegating to already busy people. Rather than ask my swamped buddies to add one more thing to their long To-Do Lists, I’ll just jump in and take care of it.

So why do I push myself to delegate anyway?

No matter if you’re leading 60 people, 600, 6,000 or 600,000 people Moses led, you can’t do everything for everyone all by yourself. Why? Because you’ll burn out and you’ll be alone. I don’t want to burn out. I certainly don’t want to do ministry and life alone. I want to have the strength to carry out whatever God commands me.

How do I delegate?
1. Things may not get done exactly like I have them planned in my head. But *gasp* they might get done better! I need to remove myself as the ceiling over certain ministry areas because my team can outperform me given the opportunity. I have to get out of the way so they can flourish.
2. I’ve got to set aside time to delegate so I can save time on the back end. So much more can be accomplished when you have additional hands doing the work.
3. Delegation blesses people with the opportunity to serve and grow. Thankfully the Lord has given us all different gifts. I’ve got to learn to do what only I can do and release others to do what only they can do.
4. I have to stop saying “no” for people and trust they will say “no” for themselves if needed. Extend the opportunity to serve.

By Lori Wilhite