In leadership, what does "delegation" involve?

Delegation is a critical leadership skill that effectively empowers team members by assigning both responsibility and authority for specific tasks or projects. When a leader delegates, they entrust team members with the autonomy to make decisions related to the assigned tasks, while the leader remains accountable for the overall outcome. This not only fosters trust and builds capability among team members but also allows leaders to focus on higher-level responsibilities essential for strategic goals.

While the other options touch on aspects of delegation, they do not capture its true essence. Simply assigning tasks without guidance lacks the necessary elements of authority and accountability, leading to confusion or a lack of ownership. Distributing workloads equally does not take into account individual strengths or the specific aptitudes of team members, which can lead to inefficiency. Lastly, taking on all tasks personally contradicts the purpose of delegation, which is to empower others and promote a more collaborative and effective team dynamic. Therefore, the correct understanding of delegation emphasizes the balance of assigning responsibility and authority while the leader retains ultimate accountability for the outcomes.