Do you ever feel like you're drowning in work, but can'tbring yourself to hand things over?

I know that feeling too well. When I first stepped intoleadership, I thought doing everything myself was a sign of strength. That if I handed over the reins, things would go wrong, or worse, people would think Iwasn’t needed.

But over time, I learnt the hard truth: real leadershipisn’t about doing more, it's about enabling more.

In this episode of the Leadership in Construction podcast, Iunpack one of my favourite (and most misunderstood) leadership topics: Delegation.

We explore why so many of us struggle with it; whether it'sthe fear of others getting it wrong, guilt because our team’s already overloaded, or that little voice that says, “They’ll never do it as well as I can.”

But here's the thing, every time we cling to a task thatisn't ours, we're neglecting the things only we can do as leaders. The high-impact stuff. The growth-driving stuff.

So, in this episode, I walk you through the tried-and-testedDOD method

Decide,

Own,

Develop

A practical delegation formula that’s helped me and manyother leaders delegate with clarity, confidence, and care.

This episode isn't just theory. It’s a roadmap. I share:

• Why people don’t delegate (and the hidden costs of thatchoice)
• How delegation can actually fuel team growth
• How to choose the right person (even in small orinexperienced teams)
• The critical difference between micromanaging and mentoring
• The language shift from tasks to outcomes (andwhy it matters)
• Why we must allow space for mistakes, and celebrate the wins that follow

Ultimately, this episode is about giving yourself permissionto lead at your highest level, and helping your team step into theirs.

If today’s episode sparked something in you, maybe arealisation that you’ve been holding on too tightly, or a reminder that you don’t have to lead alone, then I’d love to hear about it.

Leave a review, subscribe, and share this episode withsomeone else in the construction industry who’s ready to delegate with confidence.

We’re not just talking about better leadership, we’rebuilding it.

Until next time, keep leading with purpose, and raise thestandards of leadership in construction.

Key Lessons Learnt:

• Delegation is not about letting go of control; it's aboutcreating space for growth.

• Avoid the three blocks: control, fear, and guilt, theysabotage effective leadership.
• Every time you do someone else's role, you’re abandoningyour own.
• The DOD method (Decide, Own, Develop) provides a clearstructure for effective delegation.
• Communicate the 'why', not just the 'what'. People thrivewhen they understand purpose.
• Mistakes are part of the journey. They signal learning, notfailure.
• Check-ins beat check-ups. Build trust through structuredsupport, not surprise audits.
• Celebrating wins builds team confidence and shows you’repaying attention.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome back & why delegation matters
• 01:45 – The three big blockers to delegation: Control, Fear& Guilt
• 06:30 – The real cost of not delegating (burnout,bottlenecks, and business plateaus)
• 09:15 – The DOD Method: Decide, Own, Develop
• 10:40 – Deciding what only you can do (and everything elsecan be delegated)
• 12:05 – Choosing the right person—even if your team is smallor inexperienced
• 13:50 – Communicating the ‘why’, not just the ‘how’
• 15:00 – Using outcomes over checklists and showing ‘whatgood looks like’
• 16:40 – Development through check-ins, not micromanagement
• 18:30 – Mistakes, learning, and feedback loops
• 20:00 – Celebrate success and reflect regularly
• 21:40 – Final thoughts: Leadership is about enabling, not owning

Keywords:

Leadership in construction, Delegation techniques, Effective leadership, Construction leadership, Team development, Burnout prevention, Leadership skills, How to delegate,

Links Mentioned:

Free guide: 10 Quick Steps to Turn Disengaged Employees into Production Machines – https://linktr.ee/michaelfisher88