The Difference Between a Manager and a Leader When It Comes to Delegation

In the past, I have spoken about the power of delegation when it comes to growth in your business. If done properly, you can exponentially grow your business without having to work 80-plus hours a week. But did you know that when it comes to delegation there are a few different approaches you can take, and both have a time and place within your business? Today I want to explore the different ways that managers and leaders delegate.

Direct versus enroll

One difference between a leader and a manager is the way they engage their team. A manager directs team members to do a certain task, and the team member does it, because it was asked of them. But a leader comes at it a bit differently. A leader enrolls their staff and helps them gain ownership in the process. They give a sense of meaning as to why the staff members should be doing what they’re doing. They help their team get buy-in on the results. When a manager gets his team member to do a task the team member does it because they feel as if they are supposed to do it. When a leader gets a team member to do it, they do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do. They feel that what they do matters. And that empowers them to do more.

Accountability

Delegation without accountability is a recipe for disaster, but how you go about holding your team accountable matters. A manager will hold their staff accountable by keeping a watchful eye and stepping in quickly if they notice someone isn’t meeting their deadlines. A leader will create a company culture that holds people accountable and gives them the tools to self-manage, so that they feel supported. Now, there is a time and place for both methods, and part of your growth is beginning to understand when and where to use each method.

Empowering staff

Another difference between a manager and leader has to do with how they empower their staff to take on tasks and growth opportunities. A good manager will assign roles that people know how to perform. “Hey, Mark, you’re good at this. Can you please do X and Y?  I’m going to count on you to get that done. ” A leader will also do that, but they’ll take it a step further and stretch their best people to grow and succeed in areas they haven’t yet mastered.  Which not only helps grow their business, but their team members as well.