Delegating is a critical managerial skill, yet many managers neglect this responsibility. That's unfortunate--because effective delegation can deliver short- and long-term benefits for you, your staff, and your organization. Despite the benefits, delegation makes some managers uneasy. Some don't like delegating because they fear they'll lose control of their direct reports and projects. Others see delegating as giving up responsibility. Still others believe that doing the job themselves will be most efficient. Leaders should make delegation part of the process for creating staff development plans. Discuss which types of tasks and projects should be delegated to employees so they can build the skills they need. Include those delegated assignments in the people's performance goals. This will help leaders think about opportunities to delegate. Managers manage details, such as solving direct reports' problems. Leaders manage people by fostering a sense of ownership and accountability among their employees. When you envision yourself as a leader, you become more comfortable delegating.