Stop delegating. What you can learn from Joe DePinto, CEO of 7-eleven

Interestingly, even if you (as the delegator) aren't aware of the difference, the people you are delegating to are most likely picking up on it, and it will have an enormous impact on their motivation and trust.

There is a cumulative effect here. If someone who is consistent on that first point were to call you up and ask you to fly to a meeting on his/her behalf on a Saturday evening, you'll (emotionally, at least) have no problem doing it. If, on the other hand, someone who is _not_ consistent on this point asks the same thing (whether or not you've consciously realized it) you will likely have some degree of resistance or outright resentment.

You have a big potential investor coming over tomorrow and the office is a wreck. A poor leader would delegate the cleanup simply because he/she can, and people will pick up the psychological cues. A good leader will ask himself if he's willing to do it but can better the organization more if he does something else, and only if there is a positive answer will he delegate the job. And again, people will pick up the psychological cues.