13 Delegation Quotes

In the process of studying the top of delegation, I came across these quotes worth sharing:

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men and women to do what he wants done and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

Teddy Roosevelt

“It’s amazing what can be accomplished by any person if he doesn’t care who gets the credit.”

Sign on Ronald Reagan’s desk

“Delegation is an issue of respect and how much we respect those that are under us on our team.”

Dr. Hans Finzel

“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.“

Ronald Reagan

“You can delegate authority, but you cannot delegate responsibility.“

Byron Dorgan

“The inability to delegate is one of the biggest problems I see with managers at all levels.“

Eli Broad

“When in doubt, mumble; when in trouble, delegate; when in charge, ponder.“

James H. Boren

“I don’t have a problem with delegation. I love to delegate. I am either lazy enough, or busy enough, or trusting enough, or congenial enough, that the notion leaving tasks in someone else’s lap doesn’t just sound wise to me, it sounds attractive.“

John Ortberg

“You walk into the class in second grade. You can’t read. What are you going to do if you’re going to make it? You identify the smart kid. You make friends with him. You sit next to him. You grow a team around you. You delegate your work to others. You learn how to talk your way out of a tight spot.“

Malcolm Gladwell

“I find that many entrepreneurs are trying to do everything when it would be cheaper and more time-efficient to delegate, even if there are monetary costs associated with that.“

James Altucher

“The first rule of management is delegation. Don’t try and do everything yourself because you can’t.“

Anthea Turner

“People and organizations don’t grow much without delegation and completed staff work because they are confined to the capacities of the boss and reflect both personal strengths and weaknesses.“

Stephen Covey

“Delegation is giving others the opportunity to participate in the story.  If you have a good story, people will line up to get involved – to play a part in the story.”