As I’ve written a few times previously, I am not Gary Veynerchuck’s biggest fan.
From rewriting history to celebrating inauthenticity
… Gary seems to be an individual who represents almost the opposite of everything I value.
Of course, given he is more successful than I’ll ever be, you could argue you should listen to him rather than me – but then values shouldn’t be evaluated against what you have, but how you live.
Anyway I digress because I recently read something that I agree with him on.
No … this is not a joke.
It’s the art of delegation.
This is what Mr V said …
I agree with him.
Too many people completely miss the point of what delegation means.
They think it’s about handing over the shit you don’t want to do, but it’s not – it’s enabling colleagues to bring their talent and way of seeing the World into a project you’re working on in a way where they can win on their terms.
That doesn’t mean you have to blindly support whatever they do.
But it is about backing, supporting and encouraging them every step of the way.
Letting them do what they think is the way to win rather than expecting them to redo what you’d do.
To do that, you do have to let go of your ego.
To do that, you do have to have faith in the talent you work with.
To do that, you do have to want to see your team grow and progress.
In essence, you have to open the door to opportunity and let your team walk in and do their thing … it’s not about opening the door for only you to walk in and leave everyone else behind.
Making sure your team feel backed is vitally important.
Giving them the time and space to think, challenge and be challenged is everything.
But most of all, handing over the spotlight to them with your full support is – at least to me – what delegation is all about.
Not keeping things from them.
Not limiting what they want to do.
Not stopping them from forging their own direction and destination.
I know it can be hard, but it’s also worth it because while you are responsible for the standards being produced – doing it in a way that lets your team grow and develop is the foundation of management success … because the reality is when you get to run a department, success should be based as much on what your team achieves as what you personally do.
If they win, you win.
Simple as that.
Maybe there is hope for Mr V after all.
Maybe.
Though ‘a lack of ego’ and ‘Gary V’ have never appeared in the same sentence before and likely never will again.