Delegation and Anxiety

Delegating tasks can feel daunting — not because we don’t want to empower our employees, but because deep down, we worry they might fail. Ironically, holding too tightly to tasks out of fear can create more problems than an honest mistake ever would. Fear keeps us — and our teams — stuck, limiting growth and learning opportunities for everyone.

The truth is, failure is part of the learning process. When we start seeing mistakes as chances to grow, both we and our employees can move forward with greater confidence.

If anxiety around delegation tends to hold you back, here are a few strategies that can help:

• Write Down Your Concerns: Instead of letting worries spiral in your mind or blurting them out, try writing them down. It’s a simple way to acknowledge your feelings and give them structure.
• Prioritize Stress Management: Regular exercise can help keep your stress levels in check, creating space for calmer, clearer thinking.
• Practice Mindfulness: Meditation can train you to stay grounded in the present. Worry tends to live in the future — a place we can’t control.
• Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Perfection is often an illusion we create in our minds. Celebrating steady, healthy progress is far more realistic — and far more rewarding.
• Challenge Magnification: Anxiety often tricks us into believing worst-case scenarios are the most likely ones. Pay attention to "shorthand" thoughts like “failure, disaster, fired” and take time to translate them into full sentences. Translating that into a complete sentence might look like: “If my employee fails, I will be blamed for the worst possible disaster that can occur at this company, and I will be fired.” Once you see the full sentence, it’s easier to step back and ask: Is this outcome truly likely? Most often, the answer is no.

Delegating is an act of trust — in your team and in yourself. With a little practice and a lot of patience, you can create an environment where both you and your employees feel empowered to succeed.