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17. Delegate

Stepping into management is often a battlefield promotion. You may even hold onto your previous duties as you assume new ones. In this atmosphere, you can't juggle everything. No one expects you to have all the answers, and you'll only hurt your team by pretending to know more than you do. Instead, swallow your pride. Recognize your shortcomings and your reports' strengths, and capitalize on them. Step back and let them lead, checking in and providing counsel from time to time. Just be careful not to abuse delegation: It can never be a means to regularly duck work or leave early.

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