Delegation is supposed to free leaders to focus on strategy and grow their teams, but too often, it goes sideways. Why? Because leaders confuse delegation with one of two extremes:
Extreme #1: Micromanagement
This is when you hand off a task but keep every decision in your hands.
- You feel the need to approve every step.
- You dictate exactly how things must be done.
- You “hover” so closely that your team becomes a line of frustrated order-takers.
Micromanagement doesn’t build trust, it trains people to wait instead of think.
I’ve been guilty of this myself. People would finish their work and then stall until I gave my final approval. Hours of productive time wasted all because I thought I was “protecting quality.” In reality, I was signaling that I didn’t trust them.
Extreme #2: Abandonment
On the other side, some leaders throw a task at someone and walk away.
- No context.
- No guidance.
- No support.
The team is left to sink or swim, often guessing what success even looks like.
I’ve been on the receiving end of this, leading maintainers on the busiest C-17 flightline in the Middle East. The workload was crushing, and we had only half the people we needed. Without clear guidance, every day felt like scrambling to make sense of chaos. Abandonment doesn’t empower, it overwhelms.
Real Delegation Sits in the Middle
True delegation isn’t micromanagement or abandonment. It’s the intentional transfer of responsibility and authority, with support and accountability built in.
When you delegate well:
- Your team knows the “why” and “what,” not just the “how.”
- They have resources and permission to act.
- You stay engaged at the right level…supporting, not smothering.
The “Balance Check”
Next time you hand something off, ask yourself:
Am I still holding all the decisions (micromanaging)?
Have I disappeared completely (abandoning)?
Or have I given clear expectations, authority, and support (delegating)?
If you want to build capable teams that deliver, avoid the extremes. Delegation done right is the balance that creates trust, growth, and momentum.
Don’t micromanage. Don’t abandon. Delegate.
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