One of the biggest buzzwords in business today is empower vs. delegate. In an era focused on efficiency and effectiveness, eliminating tasks that no longer serve you is essential. We strongly advocate for solo business owners to stop working on non-revenue-generating activities and focus on growth. Over the past decade, alongside the rise of entrepreneurship, the term delegation has become a widespread practice. A quick Google search will yield over 28,500,000 resources on delegation techniques and best practices.
Empower vs. Delegate: Why Delegation Falls Short
According to Wikipedia, delegation (also called deputation) is the assignment of authority and responsibility from a manager to a subordinate to complete specific tasks. But let’s pause for a moment: “Manager to a SUBORDINATE.”
Does that feel inspiring or empowering? Not really. The very definition of delegation suggests a hierarchical, one-sided approach—where one person assigns a task while the other is simply expected to complete it. Over the last 20 years, we’ve worked with more than 400 small-business owners and their teams, and a common theme we’ve noticed is how team members perceive delegation. When asked, “What role do you serve in the business?” 90% of team members respond with, “Whatever needs to get done; depends on the day.” In their minds, delegation often translates to “being dumped on.”
Empower vs. Delegate: The Language Shift That Matters
If you want better results, start by speaking in a way that empowers your team. It’s a small but impactful shift in perspective. We’re not splitting hairs—there’s a significant difference between delegation and empowerment. When employees hear “delegation,” they often perceive it negatively. Instead, present new tasks as opportunities for growth and leadership.
For example, say you want to transfer document drafting to your client services coordinator. You have two ways to approach this:
- Delegation Approach: You tell her, “I’m delegating drafting to you because I need more time for marketing and client meetings.” While true, this makes it seem like her work is a lower priority compared to yours, and she’s simply taking on an unwanted task.
- Empowerment Approach: Instead, frame it as an opportunity for growth. Invite her to sit in on client meetings from start to finish. Afterward, discuss what stood out to her—how your process alleviates client stress, builds trust, and ensures their assets are protected. Then, guide her through the document creation software and intake forms, showing how her role in drafting directly impacts clients’ lives. Now, she doesn’t just see it as paperwork—she sees it as a vital part of your firm’s impact.
How Empowerment Leads to Better Results
When you empower vs. delegate, you create a motivated, engaged team. It requires the same amount of effort on your part but yields significantly better results. Businesses that focus on empowerment instead of delegation see improved performance, stronger team buy-in, and reduced frustration. Without this shift, you risk falling into the common complaint: “I can’t get my employees to do what I need them to do.”
Start Empowering Your Team Today
Looking for a simple way to start empowering your team? Join our Team Empowerment Academy today. For just $14.99, you’ll gain access to over 20 tools designed to help you create a thriving, engaged team. Click on our blogs to start empowering your team now.
