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News Flash: You Don’t Have To Do Everything – Start Delegating!

WRITTEN April 7, 2022 Author: Patricia McCormack

We strive to be good leaders. A crucial quality that good leader’s share is knowing how to delegate.

Delegating is when managers use their position to assign tasks and responsibilities to others, such as team members or co-workers.

Ask Yourself: Does this need to be done by me?

  • Can it be done by someone with very little experience?
  • Can it be done by someone who needs to dig in and gain experience?
  • Or Finally, can it be done by someone with the skills to do it much better than me?
If the answer is yes, it is time to delegate. It is the smart move – free up your time for the more strategic tasks required by your position. The bonus is that at the same time, you will provide opportunities for growth and learning for others.Despite its importance, many managers have a hard time delegating tasks to others even though they can’t — and shouldn’t — do everything themselves.
WHY PEOPLE DON’T DELEGATE
  • They feel that delegating is just passing off work to someone else.
  • They think that they will do it better.
  • They are scared to let go.
WHY MANAGERS SHOULD DELEGATE
  • It is empowering. When you trust team members with important tasks, they will feel more valued and needed, improving attitude and performance.To build trust. Delegating requires faith in another person’s ability to successfully perform a task. This will lead to more trust overall for both sides.
  • To help others learn new things. With the proper training, employees will gain skills which may help the organization as well as their own careers.
  • It frees managers up to do other tasks.

Where do I start delegating?
Make a  list of everything in your job that you do that you should NOT be doing.   

Start delegating using clear communications. 

To delegate successfully, be clear about the expectations for the overall project as well as the vision for the tasks. Provide explicit instructions, and always include a deadline.
Don’t leave them hanging. It is important to be available for providing support and to follow up regarding milestones within the project as well as at completion. Avoid the slippery slope that can lead to micromanaging. Keep that balance to be present yet not overbearing, and be approachable when needed.And as always, let your team know when they do a good job and thank them. 

Start delegating effectively and you will see the benefits for you, your staff, and ultimately your organization.
Image by Marcus Lütkemeyer on Flickr
This information is from our Leadership and Management curriculum. If you’re looking for ways to improve your communication skills, register for one of our public classes.

Other Resources:

5 Reasons Why you need to delegate more.

How to Start Delegating Tasks Effectively

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