Why Delegation is Your Superpower: The 1-3-1 Rule
“If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.”
– Richard Branson, British entrepreneur
Richard Branson nailed it. Delegation isn't just for entrepreneurs—it's for any Small and Medium Enterprise business leader looking to level up. One of the easiest (and most powerful) things to delegate? Problem-solving. It’s a huge mental drain that steals your time and energy.
Here’s the magic trick: the 1-3-1 rule for delegation. It’s simple and effective.
The 1-3-1 Rule Explained
Every time someone brings you a problem, ask them for three potential solutions—and one recommendation. That’s it. One problem, three solutions, one recommendation: 1-3-1.
By making your team think through the problem and come up with answers, you stay focused on making the final decision, not sweating the small stuff. Let’s be clear: they should be working through the options and risks—not you.
What Happens When You Delegate Problem Solving?
You’re probably thinking, “Sure, but will this actually work?” Spoiler: it will. And here’s what you’ll experience once you put the 1-3-1 rule into play.
The Good Stuff:
Hidden talent will emerge: Some employees are eager to show you what they’re capable of—they just need a nudge. These folks could be your future leaders.
Surprising solutions: You’ll get fresh, creative ideas that you never would’ve thought of yourself. Be prepared to be impressed.
More time for you: As your team gains confidence, they’ll stop running to you with every little issue. They’ll realize they can handle more on their own.
Respect will shift: Instead of being seen as the go-to problem-solver, you’ll be respected as a decision-maker. Leaders decide, analysts solve problems.
But, before you reap these rewards, you’ll hit a few bumps in the road.
The Growing Pains:
Initial resistance: Some employees will struggle, lacking confidence in their problem-solving skills. But guess what? They’ll never get better if you keep doing the heavy lifting for them. Let them grow through the challenge.
A dip in your popularity: You might feel a little less “liked” at first. You used to be the hero, always ready to jump in and save the day. Now, you’re handing the responsibility back to them. It’s a tough love situation.
Fear of missing out: When they stop coming to you for every little thing, you might worry you’re out of the loop. Don’t sweat it. The big, scary stuff will still make its way to you. You’re just teaching them to handle the smaller fires on their own.
One Small Caveat
Some people may resist hard. These outliers will keep bringing weak solutions (or none at all). Resist the temptation to just solve it for them. Yes, it’s faster—but that’s not the point. You’re changing the game, and it’s going to take some tough love.
If they persist, send them back to the drawing board. If they still don’t get it, you might have a bigger issue to deal with.
The Bottom Line
Once you implement the 1-3-1 rule, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this ages ago. And with all the extra time on your hands, you’ll actually have time to reflect on that—and more.