The Art of Effective Delegation

Over the course of coaching a myriad of clients, the topic of delegation consistently emerges as an essential skill. Leaders often seek guidance on delegation when they need to streamline their roles, or when they must hone their delegation techniques to be more effective.

Delegation is pivotal in successful leadership, and Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, distinguishes a specific type of delegation known as stewardship delegation. Unlike merely assigning tasks, stewardship delegation focuses on delegating the responsibility for outcomes. This goal-oriented approach engenders mutual trust, self-governance, and accountability, while bolstering efficiency and overall team growth.

In this article, we examine the framework of Stephen Covey’s stewardship delegation model and highlight the unique advantages it offers both the delegator and delegate. We regularly assist leaders in adopting this model when working with their direct reports.

Understanding Stewardship Delegation

Stewardship delegation emphasizes assigning outcomes and results instead of micromanaging the steps or tasks required to achieve them. The delegator outlines the expected results, offers guidelines, supplies resources, delineates the accountability structure, and clarifies the repercussions of success or failure.

This approach contrasts with “gofer delegation,” where a manager instructs someone step-by-step and expects strict adherence to the directive. Stewardship delegation encourages individuals to assume ownership, exercise creativity, and exercise judgment to achieve the agreed-upon outcome.

Exploring Stephen Covey’s Stewardship Delegation Model

This stewardship delegation model contains five key components that forge an effective delegation framework. Let’s delve into these elements and comprehend how they benefit the delegator and the delegate.

1. Desired Results

The first step entails the delegator defining the desired results explicitly, which includes specifying expected outcomes, deadlines, and quality standards. It is vital that both parties share a clear understanding of the end goal.

• Advantage for the Delegator: Precise result definition minimizes ambiguity and miscommunication. The delegator knows precisely what to expect and can comfortably step back, confident that the delegate comprehends the objective.
• Advantage for the Delegate: The defined outcome empowers the delegate to assume responsibility and unlock their creativity and resourcefulness to achieve it.

2. Guidelines

The delegator establishes guidelines upon identifying the desired results. These guidelines create a framework for the delegate, allowing them to work autonomously but ensuring that they adhere to certain parameters, such as budget constraints, deadlines, or company policies.

• Advantage for the Delegator: Guidelines afford peace of mind, knowing that the delegate will adhere to the company’s requirements and standards.
• Advantage for the Delegate: Guidelines minimize the risk of errors and provide a safe space for innovation.

3. Resources

The delegator supplies the necessary resources—including training, tools, access to data, or personnel—to remove any barriers obstructing the delegate in achieving the desired outcome.

• Advantage for the Delegator: Resource allocation minimizes or reduces the need for constant monitoring, freeing the delegator’s time for other tasks.
• Advantage for the Delegate: Having the right resources demonstrates that the delegator is invested in the delegate’s success, fostering confidence and motivation.

4. Accountability

In stewardship delegation, accountability is jointly agreed upon by the delegator and delegate. This usually involves regular meetings or progress reports to assess whether the project is progressing as planned.

• Advantage for the Delegator: Accountability offers visibility into the project’s progress without requiring control over every detail, enabling adjustments if needed but preventing micromanagement.
• Advantage for the Delegate: Regular checkpoints foster collaboration, allowing the delegate to demonstrate progress, seek feedback, or request guidance if challenges arise.

5. Consequences

Lastly, the delegator and delegate establish consequences for both success and failure. Potential outcomes include (reward, recognition or more responsibility) or negative consequences (extra work or decreased trust).

• Advantage for the Delegator: Consequences ensure the delegate remains goal-oriented. Success reinforces effective delegation, while failure serves as a learning experience.
• Advantage for the Delegate: Explicit consequences clarify expectations and provide motivation to excel.

Benefits for the Delegator

1. Enhanced Strategic Thinking

Delegating outcomes instead of tasks enables the delegator to concentrate on strategic activities without micromanagement.

2. Trust Development

Stewardship delegation nurtures trust between the delegator and delegate, strengthening relationships and fostering collaboration.

3. Empowered Team Members

A sense of autonomy encourages team members to handle complex tasks, reducing the need for managerial involvement in minor decisions.

4. Improved Decision-Making

Clearly defining outcomes forces the delegator to think critically, enhancing decision-making and alignment.

Benefits for the Delegate

1. Greater Autonomy

The delegate can experiment with different approaches to reach the goal, fostering creativity and innovation.

2. Skill Development

By focusing on outcomes, delegates enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. This prepares them for more challenging roles in the future.

3. Ownership and Accountability

Increased accountability leads to a greater sense of ownership over the delegate’s work. This motivates them to invest in the project’s success and learn from their mistakes if things don’t go as planned.

4. Improved Trust and Recognition

Successful outcomes result in greater trust and recognition from leaders, which can lead to increased responsibility, career advancement, and personal growth opportunities going forward.

In Summary 

Stephen Covey’s stewardship delegation model is a potent framework for cultivating mutual trust, accountability, and growth. By concentrating on the outcomes instead of tasks, this approach offers profound benefits for both the delegator and the delegate. The delegator saves time, develops empowered team members, and fosters a culture of trust, while the delegate enjoys greater autonomy, skill development, and a stronger sense of ownership. In the end, stewardship delegation creates a more cooperative, productive, and motivated team environment, leading to improved outcomes for the entire organization.

At Global Coach Group (GCG), our network of over 4,000+ experienced coaches is dedicated to delivering tailored leadership coaching to help leaders become more self-aware, improve their communication strategies, and ultimately drive better team performance. 

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