Let it go.

Have you ever been entrusted with something that could (and probably should) be delegated, just to find yourself wanted to maintain the charge of it? I have, and sometimes forcing yourself to let it go can not only be empowering for those around you, but yourself as well.

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to attend SALT Conference in Des Moines, IA, along with ~4,000 other college students to worship and be in good company. (Click Here to learn more about the SALT Network) There is a tradition where each year, each school in attendance brings a flag to one, represent their school, but two so that other students from that school can easily find their section when they enter the auditorium.

The flags are designated to a student in each section by the SALT Director from each location, and it is kind of a big deal as the person with the flag tends to be leading the section as far as chanting goes, and they get to participate in the 'flagnado' where all of the flags are ran around the stage. It is basically a guaranteed spot to be on the social medias and an invite for random people to come talk to you as lots of students tend to want pictures with or make tik-toks of every flag.

This year, I was entrusted with our flag, and it was a blast. That said, I was admittedly fairly controlling of it at first. I was entrusted with it, I knew it brought attention, and I wanted to do it. However, thanks to my self-awareness and my desire to include others, I quickly told myself that it really isn't that big of a deal to me, and it would be much more fun to let others share in the excitement of being the flag holder. To make a long story short, I forced myself (yes, I sadly had to talk myself into knowing it would be okay) to share it with the other people in our group who wanted to wave the flag, run the flag, carry the flag around, whatever it was. All I asked was that I knew where it was for the sake of responsibility being placed on me and not the person I was choosing to entrust it with.

In doing this, I felt myself growing in my leadership as I was noticeably emotionally sacrificing for those around me, as well as challenging myself in an area of leadership.

While this is an incredibly silly story and seems totally irrelevant, how many times in our leadership do we fail to delegate either from fear of one's inability or our own need to fill our desires? I wanted to, and had the authority to say that I was the flag guy, and that was that. However, I also knew that my want and authority, though right in act, weren't right in moral. Who are we failing to empower because of our unwillingness to delegate? Whatever small tasks you may be holding onto because of your enjoyment from them or feel of needing authority over them, let them go. I'm sure the results will be not only satisfactory, but likely exceed expectations.