Top 5 Books on Delegation

We’ve compiled a list of books on delegation that will help you master—or deepen—this essential skill to work more efficiently.

1. Delegation and Supervision by Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is a well-known expert in personal and organizational effectiveness, with clients including Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, and Motorola.
Tracy believes that major success comes to those who know how to delegate authority. In this book, he shares 21 principles of delegation that are effective at any level of management. You’ll learn how to assign tasks, monitor progress, and turn delegation into a learning tool—freeing up time for your own growth.

“The inability to move from doing the job to managing the job is the main reason people fail in management,” says Tracy.

2. Delegating Authority by Kate Keenan

“Delegation is like maintaining a humid, warm environment in a greenhouse for tropical plants. Without the right conditions, they won’t bloom,” says psychologist and philosopher Kate Keenan.
She offers practical advice on how managers can delegate effectively—building team confidence and freeing themselves to tackle more complex, strategic goals.

3. Leadership and the One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard, Patricia Zigarmi, Drea Zigarmi

This practical guide teaches how to become a creative leader through situational management.
The authors reject a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Instead, they emphasize adapting your style depending on each team member’s needs—knowing when to delegate, when to assist, and when to direct, to maximize motivation.

“Delegation is appropriate when working with self-reliant individuals. They don’t need instructions—they support themselves,” the authors write.

4. Delegation: A Manager’s Guide by Richard Luecke and Perry McIntosh

“Delegation solves the core challenge of management—achieving results through others,” assert these business experts.
They outline five key stages of delegation: defining the task, choosing the right person, assigning the task, monitoring progress, and evaluating results. The book also highlights common delegation pitfalls and how to overcome them at each stage.

5. How to Delegate: 50 Sticky Notes of Wisdom by Sergey Potapov

The author, a business coach and executive, shares practical methods to develop one of the most vital skills for any leader—delegating authority.
For many, handing off tasks is psychologically difficult. Potapov offers clear, actionable strategies to make delegation feel more natural and effective.