Many founders try delegation once, get disappointing results and quietly take the work back. Usually the problem isn’t the person — it’s the handover.
Delegate the outcome, not the task
‘Send the weekly newsletter’ is a task. ‘Our subscribers get one useful, on-brand email every Tuesday’ is an outcome. Outcomes give people room to think and a clear picture of success.
Write down what good looks like
Share two or three examples of excellent work, the standards that matter and the decisions they can make without asking. Ten minutes of writing saves weeks of correcting.
Check in on a schedule, not a feeling
Agree on when you’ll review progress — weekly at first, then less often. Scheduled check-ins build trust; anxious drop-ins erode it.
