Mini-masterclass with Veteran, Director and Doctoral Student, Tomina Bentley.
A guide to letting go.
Veteran leader Tomina Bentley shares lessons from military leadership on transforming from being a do-it-all leader to one who builds leaders. Her key insight? Delegation isn’t about shedding work – it’s about sowing trust, and each task handed over is a seed for someone else’s growth.
A common mistake? Thinking delegation means firing off a ‘can you sort this?’ email. Real delegation creates learning opportunities and multiplies your impact.
Three levels of delegation:
1️⃣ Task clarity: Be crystal clear about what needs to be achieved (and why). Don’t assume people know what you mean. Your explanation should convey the end-to-end picture and how this task fits in. Clear instructions prevent any confusion – remember, clear is kind!
2️⃣ Decision authority: Delegate the thinking, not just doing. Let people make decisions within boundaries, starting with low-stakes situations. Give solid context and suggest some considerations, but be open to how they approach the task.
3️⃣ Outcome ownership: Hand over full ownership. Let them drive- it might not be exactly how you’d do it, but you’re there to support, not interfere (#nohovering). This builds the most purpose and engagement in people, and they may surprise you!
Delegation is a conversation with the future – what you release today creates tomorrow’s capability.
Powrsuit replaces exclusive, time-intensive professional development with small actions that work around real life. Join now to access this, and over 70 more bite-sized lessons, along with peer coaching, a private network and plenty of other member benefits.
"My take away gem "delegate the thinking". I often do all the thinking beforehand to ensure it is done 'my way'. Your sharing showed me the unintended consequences of this approach. "
