Growing by Letting Go: The Little Shift You Can Make
April 09, 2025 - Anil Jalali
A common pitfall in leadership is the tendency to stay in ‘control” of the work, the decisions, and most importantly, the team. This often shows up when leaders try to do everything themselves or tend to overly directly about not just what needs to be done, but how it should be done.
This behaviour is often driven by a need for perfection, underlying insecurities, or the need to be visibly better than others with an aim to get ahead. Ironically, this mindset often leads to two outcomes: the leader becomes overwhelmed, and the team becomes disengaged and lack motivation.
When Control Holds You Back
Leaders who struggle to delegate often find themselves stuck with the habit of doing what they’ve always done—activities they’re already good at. But while that may keep them busy, it doesn’t help them grow. Worse, it limits their team’s ability to step up, demonstrate ownership, and contribute beyond the usual.
If we want to grow as leaders—and help our teams to do the same—there’s one impactful way forward - Letting go!
The Power of Delegation: A Personal Anecdote
Let me share a moment from early in my career that changed the way I thought about delegation.
My manager was originally invited to speak on a particular HR topic to an audience of nearly 1500 people. Instead of accepting to take the stage himself, he asked me if I could consider doing it on his behalf.
I had never spoken to a crowd that size before, and to be honest, I was nervous. But here’s what stood out:
He trusted me. I wasn’t just representing myself—I was representing him and more importantly, the organization’s brand.
He believed in my potential. Even though we didn’t talk about it openly, he understood my ambition, my nerves, and assessed my readiness to stretch myself.
He supported me. He connected me with others who could help me prepare. He didn’t just assign the task and forgot about it —he checked in timely before the event to make sure I was ready.
He created space for my growth. It was a conscious opportunity to help me step up, gain visibility, and build confidence, eminence in my professional space.
That one act of delegation had a lasting impact on me. It taught me that real leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about empowering your team and others around you to do more.
Reflection for Leaders
If you're a leader, here are a few questions worth reflecting on:
How do you delegate today?
How has delegation helped you and your team grow?
What parts of your work could you start to let go of?
And what might be holding you back from doing so?
Letting go isn’t easy. It requires trust, vulnerability, and intentionality. At the same time, it’s also one of the most powerful way to grow—both for you and for those you lead.
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