Most people who have worked under me probably don’t realize this, but I actually have a very difficult time giving up control over anything. It’s even worse when it’s something I perceive as big and important.
Somehow or other in the last year, though, I have learned to let go just a little bit. Maybe it comes from trying to three people at the same time at work and then coming home and trying to be three people on my “business”.
I’ve even learned not to hover over people who happen to be in the way when I decide it’s time to hand something off. Actually, I never make the conscious decision to hand something off. The thought process looks remarkably like, “Holy cow, I have to do A, B, and C. Well, C is fairly minor and This Person knows how to do it. (Send This Person off to do C.) B is the one that really needs me, and That Person could easily do A if I just show her. (Call over That Person, train her quickly on A, let her know she can ask if she gets confused, and go chasing after B.)
I don’t why, but delegating gets a lot less scary and feels less like I’m giving up control if there’s some sort of training involved.
