Knowing When to Let Go

Getting Started

Knowing that people rely on us at work can be a big confidence boost, so much so that some of us try to keep a stranglehold on some aspects of our work so that others can’t share the limelight. Alternatively, it may be that you think it’s easier for you to take on more work so that others are troubled by it, or because (in your view) they can’t do it as well as you. Whatever your reason for “holding on” to certain tasks, you’re treading dangerous ground. You may end up alienating your colleagues and/or making yourself ill with the extra burden of work you’ve taken on.

Below we look at ways you can allow yourself to let go of behaviors that may be holding you back and hampering your career progression.

FAQs

I am a tenacious person and worry that unless I carry on as I am, I’ll never achieve anything. Isn’t this the most effective way of managing my career?

Hard work and commitment are always key planks of any career strategy, but it’s important that you learn that you can’t do everything yourself. If you are starting off in your first jobs, you need to take on board the experience and advice of older colleagues; as you take on managerial roles, you’ll need to be able to delegate tasks to others so that the team can reach its overall goals and also so that you don’t succumb to stress and exhaustion. Don’t hide behind tasks you’re good just because you’re frightened of taking on new challenges: you have to embrace them and open yourself up to the possibility of failure (occasionally) or stagnate.

There are some tasks at work I know I do well, and I’m reluctant to delegate them to other people. Surely the organization benefits from my keeping these jobs to myself?

Not in the long term, no. If you were to move on at any point and no-one else in the business could take on aspects of your role (even if only for a short time), there would be big continuity problems. It is always a good idea to share knowledge, however proprietorial you feel about it. Also remember that by sticking to the same tasks all the time, however well you do them, you’re limiting your own career potential. Future employers will want to see how you have developed your skills in other jobs, so you need to show some progression.