Learn to Master the Art of Delegation
In early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie was at the height of his success and he had a perspective that would define his legacy and drive countless entrepreneurs for generations. He was born into a poor family in Scotland, but he immigrated to the United States, where he rose from being a telegraph operator to owning a quarter of the U.S. steel industry through sheer determination and his strategic vision.
By 1902, he was the richest man in the world, yet he held a powerful, surprisingly simple philosophy about success: “No one will make a great business who wants to do it all themselves or take all the credit”. This isn’t a quote from the past; it’s a timeless principle that anyone building something bigger than themselves needs to remember. Carnegie didn’t just build a business; he built a machine of empowerment, using delegation and talent to reach the pinnacle he envisioned.
Here’s how Carnegie’s wisdom on leadership, teamwork and delegation still holds deep insights for today’s entrepreneurs and business leaders.
1. Why to do it all by yourself?
As entrepreneurs, we often think that we have to do all of it ourselves. The drive behind a company is often a fierce desire to control. Holding on to every task, as Carnegie’s journey shows, is not only unsustainable — it’s also counterproductive.
Carnegie realized that true growth requires a structure that allows leaders to do what they do best while sharing responsibilities effectively. For Carnegie, the answer was clear: We hire talent and empower them. This wasn’t about relinquishing control; it was about liberating himself to steer his business toward bigger goals.
2. How to build a system that works?
Carnegie was a master at systemizing and processing his business to make it run efficiently. It was simple but powerful. His trusted managers reported to him every morning. He didn’t micromanage; he suggested and let them take action based on their expertise. He’d wrap up his day’s work within an hour, and his team would execute his vision while he strategized and enjoyed his day.
The takeaway is: “If you want to grow, you need to spend less time working in your business and more time working on it”. Carnegie’s system worked because he trusted his team, had clear processes and empowered people to take ownership. This resulted in a business that could work and grow without him.
3. Do the “Right People” really matter?
Carnegie was known for surrounding himself with people who were often “better” than him in certain areas. He didn’t want to be the smartest person in the room; he valued expertise, and he let people bring their best skills to the table. His secret was this: “Hire people who are better at things than you are and let them do their thing”.
Imagine we could delegate complex tasks to people who could perform them better than we could. This was the secret sauce that made Carnegie’s empire possible. He knew that if the right team multiplies a business, the results are much more than the sum of the parts.
4. Invest in Growth through Delegation
Delegating can feel like a loss of control to many entrepreneurs. However, Carnegie viewed delegation in a different light — as an investment that would allow him to free up time to focus on moving the company forward. It was about getting rid of small, repetitive tasks and focusing on high-impact decisions.
Ask yourself: Are you spending your time on a 100,000 rupee-task or a billion-dollar idea? It’s not just about saving time; it’s about changing our focus. If we delegate effectively, we’re not just offloading our work; we’re making space for innovation, strategy and growth.
5. The True Delegation
5. The True Delegation
We can summarise the “True Delegation” through the following key pointers:
- Identify High Value Tasks
- Build Trust with the Team
- Set up Clear Systems & Processes
- Let Go of Control Graduall
- Celebrate Success Together
Key Takeaways
- Andrew Carnegie emphasized the importance of delegation, hiring talented people and trusting them to handle tasks better than he could. This approach allowed him to focus on high-level strategy and growth rather than day-to-day operations.
- Carnegie trusted his team and also created clear systems and processes, which helped his business run smoothly without constant oversight.
- Surrounding himself with skilled individuals and sharing credit, Carnegie showed that success comes from collaborative effort. His philosophy underscores that a business built on the strength of many can achieve greater heights than one reliant on a single individual.
About the Author
Muhammad Sajwani is a C-Level HR, Transformation Leader, Board Advisor, Business Coach & Organisational Consultant and Managing Director, Evolve HR. He is an author, columnist and a contributor who besides writing for LinkedIn and Medium, also regularly writes for BizCatalyst 360 and has published around 500 articles. He brings along 30+ years of local & international experience. He is a change catalyst specialising in unleashing the human Dreamgenius through Leadership, Creativity and Change Management. Muhammad has been instrumental in helping organizations come to terms with organizational changes like right-sizing and business process re-engineering. His innovative approach & high personal competence encourages people to not only accept change, but also to excel in it. Muhammad has diverse experience in conducting strategic & management development programs, conferences & events for organisations across sectors. In recognition of his long outstanding services, Global HR Professionals — GHRP & Artificial Intelligence Community of Pakistan awarded him the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in the year 2024.
