In the bustling command center of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, Flight Director Gene Kranz was a portrait of calm in a storm of complex tasks and critical decisions. As the person ultimately responsible for the success of this historic mission, he could have chosen to keep a tight grip on every detail. Instead, he led with trust, respect, and strategic delegation.
When a critical alarm signal, known as “1202”, flashed on the astronauts’ screens just moments before landing on the moon, the atmosphere in Mission Control became tense. Time was of the essence, and Kranz had a decision to make. Instead of jumping in to solve the problem himself, he turned to Jack Garman, a 24-year-old guidance officer on his team. Garman quickly identified the issue as a radar switch conflict and confidently recommended proceeding with the descent. Kranz trusted Garman’s judgment and gave the order to continue.
Kranz’s leadership style wasn’t about absconding from responsibility. Quite the opposite. He was constantly aware, available, and ready to step in when needed. But he also knew that his team, composed of expert engineers and scientists, were among the best in their fields. He had faith in their training, expertise, and judgment. He delegated critical responsibilities, trusting his team to rise to the occasion — and they did.
Under Kranz’s delegating leadership style, the team overcame unforeseen challenges and ultimately led Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to that historic moonwalk. It wasn’t Kranz who landed on the moon; it was his ability to delegate that empowered his team to make history.
In this article, we’ll unpack what it means to be a delegating leader, and when this style is most effective to elevate your team to new heights of success and innovation.
Table of Contents
What Is a Delegating Leadership Style?
A delegating leadership style is a hands-off approach that combines low task and relationship behavior.
In this style, the leader empowers an individual, or a team, to exercise autonomy. It’s like giving someone a canvas, the broad strokes of a painting, and saying, “I trust you to complete this masterpiece.”
The leader provides the big picture, the overarching goals and vision, and then steps back, trusting the individual to deliver the agreed-upon results. It’s leadership that says, “I believe in you,” without saying much at all.
When employing a delegating leadership style:
The leader turns over control. This isn’t about washing hands off the task. Instead, it’s about saying, “I trust you to handle this.”
They provide the “big picture”. A clear vision is given, setting the direction. It’s like giving someone a map and trusting they’ll find the best route.
It’s all about empowerment. The individual is allowed to make task-related decisions. They decide the “how” of getting to the destination.
Even while handing over control, the leader still monitors activities. Not as a watchdog, but as a guide, ready to step in if there’s a roadblock or a change in the journey.
It’s not just about completing a task, it’s about excellence. The leader reinforces results, celebrating milestones and acknowledging achievements.
While taking a step back, the leader remains accessible. They’re not disappearing; they’re providing a safety net. If questions arise or challenges emerge, they’re there to support and guide.
The Power of a Delegating Leadership Style
Using a delegating leadership style is beneficial to the leader and the team in several ways:
1. Leverage Time
Let’s start with something we all wish we had more of: time.
A delegating leadership style is like having a magic wand that can stretch the hours in your day. How? It’s simple: when you delegate tasks effectively, you aren’t just sharing the workload. You’re strategically placing tasks in the hands of those who can execute them best.
Imagine your team as a group of expert chefs, each with their own specialty. One is a master of pastries, another a wizard with sauces, and you, well, you’re great at seeing the big picture. In a delegating leadership setup, you’re not in the kitchen trying to whip up every dish yourself. Instead, you trust the pastry chef to create desserts that will make customers swoon and leave the savory brilliance to the saucier.
By assigning tasks based on your team members’ strengths and expertise, tasks get completed more efficiently and to a higher standard. While they are focused on their respective areas, you can turn your attention to strategic oversight, long-term planning, or nurturing client relationships.
In this way, delegating leadership isn’t just about offloading tasks; it’s about amplifying performance. It allows each member, including the leader, to focus on what they do best, which means everything gets done faster and likely better. It’s not just delegation; it’s multiplying capabilities and, in essence, time.
2. Promote Innovation
By giving team members the space to work independently and make their own decisions, you’re not just handing off tasks—you’re handing over the creative reins. You’re saying, “Surprise me. Show me a new way.” And guess what? People usually rise to the occasion when given a chance.
Delegating leadership style encourages a culture where risk-taking isn’t just allowed; it’s celebrated. It’s a green light for creativity. This kind of freedom is like oxygen for fresh, bold ideas. It allows employees to not just complete tasks but to explore, to try a new path, and to learn through doing.
Instead of the leader assigning specific tasks with specific steps, delegating leadership means team members can take on projects of their own choosing. They own their work from start to finish, and they learn invaluable lessons whether they soar or stumble.
3. Build Trust
Delegating leadership style breaks down the towering hierarchy and places the leader right alongside the team. It’s more about rolling up your sleeves and saying, “We’re in this together,” than pointing from a distance and saying, “Do this.”
When communication flows more like a conversation between peers rather than orders from above, people talk – really talk. They share ideas, they listen, and they coordinate like a band that’s in tune with each other. That’s because this leadership style is built on trust—a two-way street where leaders trust the team to do their jobs and team members trust the leader’s vision.
When a leader delegates decisions, it’s a clear signal: “I believe in your abilities.” It’s a step back from hovering over every detail, which can suffocate enthusiasm and initiative. Instead of micromanaging, leaders keep their eyes on the big picture and let team members steer their own ships towards the goal.
This sense of trust has a ripple effect. It’s not just about making team members feel good (though it does that, too). It’s about fueling a positive, engaged, can-do environment. When people are trusted to manage their own tasks, they become more invested in the outcome. They own their successes, learn from their setbacks, and they grow.
4. Foster Growth
Under a delegating leadership style, your team isn’t just ticking off tasks on a to-do list; they are seizing new challenges, expanding their skills, and growing taller in their roles.
In this landscape, the leader isn’t the sole decision-maker, the all-knowing oracle. No, the leader is more of a facilitator, the one who sets the stage, then steps back and lets the play unfold. It’s less about saying, “Here’s how we do it,” and more about asking, “How would you approach this?”
This style of leadership doesn’t straightjacket people into one way of doing things. Instead, it allows for a rainbow of approaches. There’s room to breathe, to think, to experiment. Decisions can take unexpected, yet fruitful paths because people are encouraged to apply their unique perspectives and creativity.
And while individuals are charting their own courses, they’re not isolated. Delegative leadership promotes effective communication and teamwork. The leader is there, not as a taskmaster, but as a mentor and guide, facilitating conversations, knocking down obstacles, and cheering on progress.
In a nutshell, delegative leadership makes the workplace more of a bustling, vibrant workshop than a factory, humming with people who are not just growing projects, but growing themselves. It’s where ‘work’ starts to look a lot like ‘opportunity.’
5. Improve Employee Satisfaction
Nobody likes to be a small cog in a big machine, just spinning without purpose. Delegating leadership style flips the script. It transforms employees from mere task-doers to decision-makers, injecting a sense of autonomy into their workdays.
It’s not just about doing what’s told; it’s about having a say in what gets done and how it gets done. And that feels good.
People don’t just want to work; they want to work with purpose and freedom. Delegative leadership hands them the keys and says, “You’re driving today.” It’s a nod of confidence, a signal that their ideas and approaches are valued. It’s empowering.
But this isn’t just feel-good theory. It’s backed by cold, hard data. Some studies have drawn a bright line between delegative leadership and skyrocketing satisfaction levels.[1] When people feel a sense of ownership over their work, when they’re trusted to call some shots, satisfaction is almost a guarantee.
The practical implementation of delegation is a key that can unlock a vibrant, content, and enthusiastic workforce. It turns the daily grind into a path of potential, making the workplace not just a place to earn a paycheck, but a space to make a meaningful impact.
6. Prevent Burnout
Imagine a cart being pulled by just one horse, day in and day out. It’s predictable what will happen: that horse will tire, slow down, and eventually, stop.
That’s the thing with leadership. If one person tries to shoulder all the tasks and decisions, burnout isn’t a question of if, but when.
Delegative leadership is like adding more horses to that cart, each sharing the load, each stepping in with fresh energy. Here, tasks aren’t piled on one person’s plate; they’re spread out, divided among team members. Everyone knows their role, but these roles aren’t set in stone. There’s flexibility.
When functions aren’t rigidly defined, it means that there’s freedom to adjust, adapt, and share responsibilities based on strengths, preferences, and capacities. No one’s stretched too thin, and everyone’s playing to their strengths.
And with delegative leadership, the leader is no longer the sole superhero, trying to save the day in every scene. They get to step back, oversee, and guide without drowning in details. It’s about empowering others to step up, which in turn, gives the leader a breather.
Burnout isn’t just about exhaustion; it’s often about feeling isolated in responsibility. Delegative leadership breaks that isolation. It’s a shared journey where the weight of every decision, every task, isn’t on one set of shoulders. It’s a collective effort. And when everyone’s pulling together, burnout doesn’t stand a chance.
When to Opt For a Delegating Leadership Style
The delegating leadership style isn’t a one-size-fits-all golden ticket. It’s a tool, and like any tool, it works wonders when used at the right time and place. Sometimes a task, a team, or an organization’s goals call for a different touch, a different approach.
Think of it like this: would you hand over the steering wheel of a ship to someone who has never navigated stormy waters? Probably not.
The Team
Here’s when delegating becomes the clear, winning move:
- Task Mastery: This person doesn’t just do the job; they excel at it. Time and again, they’ve proven they know the ropes and can handle this task with finesse.
- Independence in Action: They don’t need step-by-step guidance. Outline the goal, and they’re off, crafting the roadmap and navigating the journey on their own.
- Genuine Engagement: This task isn’t a chore to them; it’s a calling. They’re not just willing but genuinely excited to take it on.
- Transparent Communication: They’re no lone wolf. They regularly update key players on where things stand, ensuring no one is left in the dark.
- Candor Under All Conditions: When things go smoothly, they share the news. When bumps appear on the road, they’re just as forthcoming, avoiding sugar coating.
- Self-awareness of Skills: They’re not winging it. They have a firm grasp on their abilities and understand where their strengths lie in relation to this task.
When these stars align, that’s when delegative leadership is the smart move. It’s placing trust where trust has been earned. It’s empowering a proven player to take the field and score.
The Leader
While the capabilities of team members are a big factor in when to delegate, the leader’s role is crucial too. Here’s why:
- Clarity is Key: Without a leader pointing the way, it’s like having a bunch of cars without a map. Team members might drive really fast but in the wrong direction. They need to know the destination, and that’s the leader’s job.
- Support Matters: If a manager is too hands-off, it’s like sending someone to build a house without tools. Team members might find themselves a bit lost, unsure of how to nail down the details. They need backup, tools, and maybe a bit of advice now and then to get the job done right.
- Feedback Fuels Fire: Without regular check-ins or words of encouragement from a leader, a team’s motivation can fizzle out. Think of feedback as the fuel that keeps the engine running. No fuel? The journey could stall.
In essence, while delegating gives team members the wheel, the leader still needs to be in the car, navigating the route, and making sure there’s enough gas to keep going.
It’s not about letting go completely; it’s about finding the right balance. That’s when both leaders and team members can cruise to success.
Bottom Line
Great leadership isn’t about gripping control; it’s about inspiring it in others.
Delegating isn’t taking a backseat; it’s empowering. It’s a leader saying, “I trust you. Make this happen.”
Leaders set the direction—without it, teams might drift. While hands are off the wheel, the eyes are still on the road. Leaders are in the loop, available for guidance, and spotting when it’s time to step in or step back.
That’s delegating leadership style. It’s not stepping back—it’s stepping wisely.
