Delegation is the passing of one’s role, function, or duty to another person. In other words, a leader or manager expands his deliverables to his team. Every person in a team or business should be able to learn how to delegate effectively.
Some of the benefits of effective delegation include more opportunities for dealing with urgent matters, encouraging team members to go outside their comfort zones, and innovation.
Ultimately, it fosters business growth and identifies potential leaders who can impact your overall success. To delegate effectively, read these eight strategies you can apply to your business:
1. Identify Your Desired Delegation
Delegation requires knowing what responsibilities you’re going to entrust to others.
Identify them ahead of time before you delegate. However, keep in mind that heavy tasks that are more managerial or supervisory in nature cannot be given to subordinates.
2. Identify the Right Person
Observe your team so you can identify subordinates with potential. Check their performance ratings, if available, as your guide. Delegate someone who knows that particular task. Focusing on their strengths allows you to assign them something that will motivate them.
3. Identify Expected Outcomes
Don’t expect a certain outcome when you haven’t discussed the results you want. Explain everything in detail — like the process they need to go through and your expectations. To avoid confusion, you should be on the same page with your subordinates.
4. Identify Your Communication Means
Communication is essential in every work and business. There should not be any communication gaps. Decide whether they should reach you by phone or through email. Whichever it is, your staff should be able to get hold of you whenever they have concerns.
5. Accept Failure As Part of Learning
Some leaders like things to be organized and perfect. These people avoid delegating their work because they think no one can work like them. But one of the best strategies for a successful organization is delegating your duty and being open to failures.
Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself and your team. Think of failure as part of the process where you can learn and improve.
6. Schedule a Day for Providing Feedback
If you’re too unavailable to monitor your staff, you can’t always expect them to deliver a perfect outcome. Delegation is much more than expanding your responsibilities to others — it also involves checking on them, knowing their progress, and asking about any issues and concerns from their end.
Allow a day for feedback and share your thoughts about their progress. Lastly, listen to their ideas and be open to any possible questions that confuse the team. It’s always better to have more than one idea.
7. Provide Resources
When delegating something to your team, make sure they have all the necessary materials they’ll be needing for work. If possible, provide resources like training, orientations, and seminars. All these are great avenues for them to grasp more about the duty they will be taking.
8. Identify Ways to Praise Your Team
After the work is done, show your team some appreciation. Don’t hold it to yourself. Tap their shoulders, shake their hands, and say praises like ‘good job!’, ‘well done,’ or congratulations!.’ This may be a trivial matter to you, but it will keep them motivated to do their best.
Conclusion
Last but not least, delegation requires patience and trust. While it’s important to have confidence in your team, you should also prepare yourself for the possibility of failure. This is how you improve and excel. And while delegation may be difficult at first, it can also be quite rewarding. Delegating can save you the time and effort of doing everything yourself.
