Several times a year, I take 3 or 4 planes to arrive in Perth, Australia.

It’s a 40+ hour journey, including layovers and an early arrival at the first airport when traveling international.  People tell me all the time that they ‘couldn’t’ do it and don’t know how I do it. It’s just a state of mind, an attitude, a willingness to be a part of the journey without attachment to when you arrive, as weird as this sounds.

During the trip, time blurs into one continual space. It’s hard to describe. There is no day or night. It’s all just part of the journey, kind of like being in assisted living, having television entertainment and all your meals prepared and handed to you and not remembering what day it is.

There are some tips that help the trip (and life) go more smoothly.

Eat Healthy

Bring snacks that you and your body love, that can sustain you if you don’t like the food provided.

Be Comfortable

Wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a sweater or something to wrap around you; even with the blankets provided, the planes can be cold.

Reboot

Bring a change of clothes; after 15 hours or so, clean clothes are amazing.

Shower 

Know where the showers are in each airport; sometimes you need to buy a day-pass at Delta or United, but the shower is so worth it, and the food and drinks provided plus the quiet atmosphere versus the hustle and bustle of the rest of the airport are lovely.

Be Patient

Practice patience: going through customs can be slow and cumbersome; listen to music, calm your mind, know and see yourself on the other side of bureaucracy.

How you experience travel (and life!) is your choice.  

Airport security

Is it really protecting us or about power and control? It is as it is. So, prepare for it, and accept it as a necessary step to get where you are going.

Feeling tired and out of sorts because of lack of sleep

Is it a terminal disease or minor inconvenience? There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep on the other end to comfort the body and get back on track. Know and see yourself well-rested and relaxed in your ‘new home’ at your destination.

So, here's my takeaway 

Your leadership skills depend on who you bring to the table, your attitude and outlook, your state of Being, all the right tools are useless if you are not in that healthy, self-loving space to apply them.

Let go of opinions and preconceived ideas of how things should be and dance with what’s presented. Go with the flow and bring your best self to all you be and do.

Effective delegating is crucial to your success.  As your business grows or as responsibilities increase, you can’t do everything you have been doing and be successful.  Mundane, repetitive tasks will hold you back. Handling projects that others could do just as effectively or better is a waste of your time and resources.

You probably know this, so what's stopping you from delegating?

Maybe you don't trust your people to do the job as good as you do.  Maybe you're afraid they will just create a mess for you clean up or won't get everything done on time. All valid concerns.  So where to from here?

Here are four simple steps to get you going and delegating like a superhero!

Step 1: Get out of the Way.

Don’t make delegation about you.  Delegating does not mean that you are losing control or that you can’t handle something. Delegating means that you know how to get more done by utilizing the resources you have at hand – your people, division or team.

Step 2: Help Your People Succeed:

Don’t withhold information.  Be direct, clear and precise.  Talk to them.  Give them written instructions that are easy to follow. Tell them what, when and how each step or task much be completed, what milestones must be met and by when, what needs to be on your desk for review and when, what skills are needed, what resources are available to get the job done.

Put yourself in their shoes.  Make sure that you provide what they need to really shine.

Step 3: Stay in Touch.

Don’t disappear after delegating. Check in regularly.  Make sure that your people feel safe to bring any question, problem or concern to you, that there are no ‘stupid questions’.

You are there to catch small problems before they become big ones.  Remember what it was like to be in their shoes; be respectful, engaging and supportive.  Be patient and encouraging, and maintain appropriate boundaries.  It’s not okay to drop the job back in your lap if difficulties arise or obstacles occur.

Step 4: Maintain & Build Trust.

Don’t take a task back once it’s been delegated. That undermines confidence and can make you look power hungry and possessive, a micromanager.

Give your people the chance to do the job.  Just like you, they need to be mentored and groomed for success; it's about you embracing this kind of high-level leadership, and in so doing, success is assured.

Your people's success begets more success. Their success if your success.