When you think of leadership traits, delegation may not immediately come to mind. Words like integrity, loyalty, vision, confidence and trust may come to mind more effortlessly. Of course, these adjectives aptly define a leader.

But an important characteristic of a strong leader is the ability to delegate, and it requires a unique skillset and mindset compared to the traits listed above.

The idea of delegating may scare some folks. Some leaders may think that delegating means the work won’t be done correctly. Or they may want to be the one with the most knowledge and worry that developing someone else’s expertise could somehow prove harmful.

But that is not the case. In fact, the best leaders—those who inspire and create lasting change—identify team members with the potential and capacity to manage new challenges and then trusts them to succeed. Following this patten enables your team to demonstrate their capabilities and grow as professionals.

Leadership needs to take time to demonstrate processes or tasks and then step back to watch team members complete the work. A trusting delegation of duty instills confidence and inspires your team to excel. Therefore, delegating tasks not only promotes efficiency but also positions your company for long-term success.

Delegating is simple. Leaders should strive to do these three things:

1. Identify team members who you feel have the capacity to grow.
2. Show these team members how you expect the work to be done.
3. Follow up and coach these team members to help them meet your expectations.