Delegation Is Just Latin for Coaching — Why Great Leaders Never Say “I’ll Do It Myself”

The seven most fatal words a leader can say:
👉 “It will be faster if I do it myself.”
No, it won’t.
That mindset keeps leaders trapped in endless busywork, sacrificing family, health, and personal time on the altar of control.
If you list every regular and irregular task you handle, it will terrify you. You’ll quickly realize: you’re doing too much and leading too little.

Mini-Summary:
Doing everything yourself doesn’t make you efficient—it makes you replaceable.

Most leaders know they should delegate, but bad past experiences make them gun-shy.
The real issue? They confuse dumping with delegating.
Dumping is when your boss throws a huge pile of work on your desk with no guidance and says, “Take care of this.”
Delegation, on the other hand, is structured, intentional, and developmental—it builds your team while freeing you to lead.

Mini-Summary:
Delegation fails not because it’s flawed, but because it’s misused.

Step 1: Identify the Need

Decide which tasks can be delegated and what success looks like.
Ask: “What outcome would make this delegation a win?”

Step 2: Select the Right Person

Choose based on their growth potential, not just convenience.
Delegation isn’t dumping work—it’s a chance to develop capability and confidence.

Step 3: Plan the Delegation Meeting

Think before you delegate. Clarify:
1️⃣ Desired outcome
2️⃣ Current situation (internal/external factors)
3️⃣ Goals that are achievable yet challenging

Step 4: Hold the Delegation Meeting

Align expectations:

• Understand their vision/goals.

• Define success and acknowledge their strengths.

• Outline boundaries: time, budget, resources.

• Clarify performance standards.

Step 5: Create the Action Plan

They create the plan—not you. Ownership builds accountability.

Step 6: Review the Plan

Ensure clarity and mutual understanding. Confirm next steps together.

Step 7: Implement the Plan

Remove barriers, clear the runway, and protect your people as they execute.

Step 8: Follow Up

Don’t micromanage—just stay informed. Regular, brief check-ins prevent last-minute disasters.

Mini-Summary:
Delegation isn’t a shortcut—it’s a leadership system that multiplies capability.

Because Steps 3 and 4 (planning and discussion) feel like “too much time.”
But skipping them ensures wasted effort later.
The truth: you’ll never have enough time until you delegate intentionally.
Treat delegation as a core coaching skill—because that’s exactly what it is.

Mini-Summary:
Delegation done right saves time, builds people, and creates leaders.

• “I’ll do it myself” is leadership suicide.

• Dumping ≠ Delegation. True delegation empowers.

• Follow the 8-step process to structure success.

• Delegation develops your people and frees your focus.

• Delegation = Coaching. That’s the leadership mindset shift.

👉 Request a Free Consultation — Learn how Dale Carnegie Tokyo trains leaders to delegate effectively, coach their teams, and lead with strategic focus instead of burnout.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.