5 Lessons in Delegation from the Incas: Building a Legacy through Collaboration
As someone who considers myself a skilled delegator, I am constantly looking for evidence of the powerful impacts of effective delegation in everyday life. Earlier this month, I visited Peru to learn about the Inca Empire during its reign in the 13th Century, as well as the culture of modern-day Peruvians. During my visit to Lima, Cuzco, and the stunning site of Machu Picchu, I recognized numerous ways the Incas practiced delegation. I shared some of those quick thoughts on LinkedIn, and want to elaborate on my findings in this article.
One of the most admirable aspects of the Inca’s architectural creations that stood out to me is that while most Incas lived only 40 years, the road systems, temples, palaces, and communities they created took multiple generations to develop. My tour guide shared that fathers, sons, and grandsons carried out the vision together, over many years. These people lived and worked for something so much greater than themselves – a true legacy. Delegating through the generations was critical to the completion of these buildings and road systems. Their plans depended on others to execute, even after their death.
What about us as entrepreneurs? How do our delegation practices compare?
While we’d all hope for lasting impact from our business, the truth is we often are only focused on the immediacy of what’s in front of us.
We generally think in quarters or maybe a year at a time.
We make plans that we expect to witness and participate in bringing to fruition.
We hold tight to tasks that are “faster if I do it myself.”
We want our hands and eyes on everything to make sure it’s done right.
So, what can we learn from the Incas?
Long-term Vision: Beyond Immediate Results
The Incas teach us the importance of a long-term vision. They knew their ambitious projects would not be completed within their lifetimes and embraced a broader perspective. As modern entrepreneurs, exploring how we might leave a lasting legacy starts with training and empowering employees to take over key aspects of the business, ensuring its continuity and growth beyond our direct involvement. Build your business with an exit strategy in mind.
Trust and Collaboration: Building a Strong Foundation
The Incas relied heavily on trust and collaboration. Their societal structure and familial bonds facilitated seamless delegation across generations. In today’s business world, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration is essential for businesses to retain top talent and customer relationships. Trust fuels success and expands with clear communication, setting expectations, and allowing team members the autonomy to execute tasks. Trusting your team and encouraging collaboration can lead to innovative solutions and a more resilient organization.
Investing in People: Skills and Development
The only way the Incas could build antiseismic structures that would still be standing hundreds of years later was by investing in the skills and development of their people, ensuring that knowledge and expertise were passed down. As entrepreneurs, we can learn from this by prioritizing the professional growth of our teams. Providing training, mentorship, and opportunities for development not only enhances the capabilities of our employees but also ensures that the business can thrive without our constant oversight.
Embracing Change: Flexibility and Adaptation
One of the core characteristics of their architectural style was the way they used the existing topography and materials as part of the design. For example, if there was a large rock weighing several tons and shaped a certain way, the Incas may have built a wall around that rock to create a unique space. They didn’t necessarily follow black-and-white, repeatable processes every time. They were adept at adapting to their environment and changing circumstances, an invaluable quality for modern businesses, too.
Effective delegation requires flexibility and the willingness to adapt to new challenges. We leverage our team’s strengths and embrace the realities within our industries. (Hello, AI!) This means being open to new ideas, adjusting plans as needed, and empowering team members to take initiative and make decisions.
Letting Go: Trusting the Process
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of delegation is letting go. The Incas’ success was rooted in their ability to entrust future generations with their vision. Similarly, entrepreneurs must learn to delegate effectively and trust the process. If we can master the ability to let go of the need to control every detail and have confidence in our team’s ability to achieve great things, we create a deeper sense of purpose for ourselves and our team and ultimately create a brighter future for all.
Building a Legacy through Delegation
The Incas’ approach to delegation offers valuable lessons for modern entrepreneurs. By embracing a long-term vision, fostering trust and collaboration, investing in our people, being flexible, and learning to let go, we can build a lasting legacy. Effective delegation is not just about distributing tasks; it’s about empowering others to contribute to a shared vision, ensuring the sustained success and growth of our businesses.
By reflecting on the practices of the Incas, we can gain insights into how to delegate more effectively, allowing us to focus on strategic growth and innovation while building a strong foundation for the future. Let’s take a page from their book and create something that transcends our individual efforts, leaving a lasting impact on our businesses and communities.
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Before founding Trusty Oak, Amber spent five years at a rapidly growing digital agency based in Austin, TX. Four of those years, she was responsible for hiring and leading both local and virtual teams while working closely with clients ranging from CEOs to bestselling authors to build their brand online. As VP of Operations, Amber helped lead the company’s growth to #15 on Austin Business Journal’s Fast50 List in 2014.
As a female founder and leader of a company that has quickly established a recognizably special culture within a non-traditional workforce, Amber has energized and empowered women from diverse professional and personal backgrounds to go against the grain of historically standard female roles in business, technology, and leadership. Trusty Oak provides an opportunity for experienced admin and marketing professionals to work independently as freelancers, but with a supportive internal network consisting of other ambitious and resourceful remote workers.