The Silent “E” In Delegate

I’ve heard a number of synonyms for the word and the concept of delegation. I’ve heard some people in leadership positions talk about empowering others. The idea behind this seems to be that, if some of the workload is delegated to others, it will facilitate the growth of the individual being given those responsibilities. 

I’ve also heard the word equipping used in this way. Somebody in a leadership position will believe (rightly so) that delegation is one good way of giving others some necessary tools and freedom to accomplish a task. 

Maybe another good word that can be used in this context is encouraging. If a leader delegates some responsibilities to others, there is, indeed, an element of encouragement. The person given the assignment will believe that he or she has some qualities that are being appreciated. That is encouraging. He or she will begin to think that somebody in authority sees some potential. That, too, is encouraging.

I suppose that there are many other ways to describe the process of delegation, but it seems to me that many of them may leave out something that I believe to be vitally important. In my opinion, delegation is not best done by drawing up organizational charts. Delegation does not go smoothly by barking out orders. Delegation does not “just happen.”

It seems to me that things such as leadership, responsibility, dependability, etc. are “caught” better than “taught.” Small children soon pick up on things that indicate consistency (or a lack thereof) between the behavior expected from the child and the behavior exhibited by the parent.    

Adults can pick up on exactly the same thing. This situation and atmosphere can exist in a factory, an office building, an athletic team, or in any number of other settings – including a local congregation of God’s people.

In every setting, there is a need for what I’m calling here the silent “e” in “delegate.” The best leaders learn one important technique that requires few, if any, words. Poor leaders never seem to grasp the importance of this “e.”

This “silent ‘e’” shows up in the eighteenth chapter of Exodus. This is the chapter in which we read about a suggestion made by Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro. He had observed how much time and effort that Moses was giving to judging the people and suggested that some of this responsibility could and should be delegated to others. Please notice the point that Jethro observed the work of Moses before he made his suggestion. 

This “silent ‘e’” is a major part of our Lord’s earthly ministry. It is hinted at in His invitation to some men to follow Him. As they saw some of the sacrifices He made, including that of His life on the cross, they should more easily understand the reason for some of the sacrifices He required of them. 

As they observed Him praying, His followers wanted their prayer life to be better. As they watched Him interact with others, they were learning how they should interact with people after He went back to heaven and “delegated” some major responsibilities to them. 

When people heard Jesus say “…My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34, ESV), they should have had no trouble hearing Him challenge them to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matt. 6:33, ESV).

There is one statement made by our Lord that seems to sum up much of what His relationship with His followers was about. It is spoken during the event that is sometimes referred to as “the last supper.” 

As you may recall, in that culture, a servant could (should) have been expected to wash the feet of those who were to eat. On this occasion, no servant had done that. Neither had any of the apostles thought to do that. The Creator (cf. John 1:1ff; Col. 1:16; etc.) was the One who performed this menial task and then said this to His apostles:

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you (John 13:15, KJV).

Did you catch the “silent ‘e” in that quotation? 

The “silent ‘e’” in delegate is example!!

I have either read or heard somewhere that our current president sleeps only four hours each night. I heard him tell and interviewer that vacations bore him. He said that he prefers to work. 

Do you think that it would bother somebody in his administration if the president were to ask him or her to put in a little “overtime?” Do you think that the reaction might be different if that person knew that his or her leader was a one who only delegated and did nothing himself?

I had heard (and used) the following quote before. I did not know until I did a little research recently that they are the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I think that he must have recognized the “silent ‘e’” in delegate.

“You cannot teach what you do not know,

And you cannot lead where you will not go.”

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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn