“It’s Faster If I Do It Myself”—The Management Habit That Eventually Stops Working
You ask someone to prepare a report. Ten minutes later, you start thinking: “I could have finished this already.” They ask a question. Then another. You explain the process. Review their work. Find something you would have done differently. And eventually think: “Forget it. Next time I'll just do it myself.” It feels efficient. For today, maybe it is. But repeat that pattern for six months and something strange happens. You are now: managing projects, answering questions, checking everyone's work, attending meetings, and still doing half the tasks you were supposed to hand over. Your team waits for you. Your calendar is full. Everything important somehow requires your approval. And you wonder why becoming a manager created more work instead of less. Learning how to delegate effectively starts with understanding…