It all starts with purpose And there are only two purposes.

If you make a list of all the benefits to the manager from delegation, you get an impressive inventory (Be selfish, think only of yourself):

• More time for golf.
• More time for lunch.
• More time for surfing the internet.

That’s nice. But you also get:

• More time for thinking.
• More time for higher level work.
• More time for planning.
• More time for organizing.
• More time for analysis.

Things you were hired for in the first place, but have no time for.

Now, list the benefits of delegation to the team member:

• Cross training.
• More responsibility.
• Eligible for promotion.
• Understanding of the bigger picture.
• Feeling of importance.
• New skills.
• Credit for a new “job well done.”
• Feeling of pride.
• Eligible for higher compensation.
• Feeling of teamwork.
• Higher level of motivation.

Two different lists, one for the manager and one for the team member. Look at the themes. What do you see?
List one, for the manager, the theme is unmistakably time.
List two, for the team member, the theme is unmistakably development.

And, so these are the two purposes for delegation.
One: Time (Delegation is your most powerful time management tool)
Two: Development (Delegation is your most powerful people development tool)

So, which one gains the manager the most leverage?