(2 Timothy 2:2 NLT)
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
Multiplying Leaders
The most effective way to multiply leaders is to identify reliable people and bring them closer to you to: engage, train, and encourage them, and give them feedback and opportunity. We call these steps the process of delegation.
This doesn’t mean you have to have people in your home all the time or be available for drawn out meetings. It simply implies working together and connecting on relevant projects and in the process slowly transferring your experience, expertise – and more importantly – your heart.
How do you give people enough of you?
You give people enough of you through:
・Modeling
・Training
・Giving Tools
・Having Requirements and Expectations (setting up a frame work)
・Practical Experience (letting people try things)
・Debriefing (giving feedback)
・Handing Things On (the final step of delegation)
John Maxwell
Here are some thoughts on delegation by John Maxwell, a renowned motivational speaker to the business world. He says:
-If someone else can do a task at least 80% as well as I can, I give it to them.
-“How can I get someone of that caliber on my team?” My answer is always the same – find someone with the ability and willingness to learn, and then invest a lot of time in their lives.
-With everyone who works closely with me, my goal is to teach them to think like I do. So at the beginning, I pour a lot of myself into them. I don’t just make decisions and ask them to implement them. I share my thought processes and encourage them to tell me what they think I would do. Because of our time spent in development, I can now trust each one to make decisions and communicate the same way I would.
-Give away everything you can. It may seem to you that I give away some pretty important tasks. You’re right, I do. And that makes me unusual.
Takeaways from John Maxwell are:
1.Am I forgetting to first develop others before handing off responsibilities to them?
2.What am I holding onto that’s stealing time from my priorities?
A good way to identify your priorities is to make a list of those tasks only you can do and then plan to delegate the rest.
3.How can I teach people to think like I do?
Here are a few ways you can achieve this:
a) Describe the mission
b) Explain the “what”
c) Explain the “why”
4.The process of team building is important and it should include things like:
・Debriefing
・Bringing people into the decision making process.
・Asking people, “What do you think I would do in this situation?”
5.Give away everything you can – including your important tasks – even if the person is only 80% capable.
Aim to only hold onto your priorities!
6.Check for blockages
People are wonderful, but sometimes they can get stuck. Technology is wonderful, but it can become outdated quickly. It’s important that we make the necessary changes with sensitivity and style.
7.Recognition:
We all want to be acknowledged and affirmed. “Well done! That was great.” goes a long way. It helps us feel appreciated and confirms we are on the right track!
I hope this topic will help you go to another level at work, school, or in ministry. I know these lessons have been transformational for my ministry, and I have every confidence that delegation done well will transform your lives.