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When employed effectively, delegation can be a very powerful tool to enhance team capabilities.
On a personal level, I've noticed that this approach allowed me to have a more efficient use of my time, freeing me up for tasks that demand my particular attention or expertise.
As for the team, the most immediate benefit I witnessed was a notable increase in our bus factor.
The bus factor refers to the number of team members who, if suddenly unavailable (i.e., metaphorically "hit by a bus"), would cause a project to stall due to their unique knowledge not being shared with the rest of the team.
With delegation, we saw more and more individuals venturing into areas they wish to develop, naturally improving team morale. Ultimately, this positive feedback loop instilled a deep sense of trust within the team, cultivating an atmosphere of accountability.
When I delegate something, trust is always inherent. So, before delving into the practicalities of delegation, i.e. “how do you do this”, let's make a slight detour and examine what trust really is:
$$ \text{Trust} = \frac{{\text{Credibility} \times \text{Reliability} \times \text{Intimacy}}}{{\text{Self-orientation}}} $$
Credibility: Credibility is the respect that you earn from peers through prior positive experience, along with your current competent actions and effective communication.
Reliability: The act of consistently fulfilling your promises.
Intimacy: The special connexion you will form with the person through genuine care, fostering psychological safety and open dialogues