Great leaders check their ego at the door and empower others to excel.
– Deborah Gillis

What happens when a leader feels confident delegating responsibilities to others? According to Debra Sullivan, writing in Leading Early Childhood Organizations (part of the Art of Leadership series):

“Spreading leadership broad and deep results in a more inclusive process that represents everyone and provides the leader with the opportunity to:

• not worry [as much].
• not have to be in charge of everything.
• not have to work alone.
• begin to recognize, appreciate, support, and make use of the leadership potential of those who surround us (very important).”

In a Harvard Business Review article, “To Be a Great Leader,” Jesse Sostrin explains how important it is for leaders to stop trying to be involved in all details. “One of the most difficult transitions for leaders to make is the shift from doing to leading…elevating your impact requires you to embrace an unavoidable leadership paradox: You need to be more essential and less involved. When you justify your hold on work, you’re confusing being involved with being essential.”