How to delegate tasks better?
Delegation is the process by which managers transfer responsibility to subordinates, such as direct reports or coworkers, at their place of business. It is crucial because the higher-level strategic planning for which you are accountable requires time and effort.
It may seem simple, and those who can do it well make it appear simple, but effectively passing the baton requires a lot of trust, coordination, and communication. Nevertheless, everyone on your team benefits if you can learn how to delegate effectively. So, in this article, we will learn more about delegating tasks and why it is important.
Why is it Important?
Delegation is crucial for leaders because they cannot and should not perform all tasks independently. It gives your team more power, fosters trust, and aids in professional development. It teaches managers how to choose the people who are best suited to take on particular tasks or projects. Of course, delegating tasks can help you reduce your workload, but delegation does much more than that.
- To begin with, those who work for you will have the opportunity to learn new abilities and acquire knowledge, preparing them for future positions of increased responsibility.
- Delegation can also show that you value your subordinates’ abilities and trust in their discretion.
- Employees who believe they are trusted and respected are more committed to their work, their organization, and, especially, their managers.
7 Tips to Delegate Tasks Effectively
Despite the fact that delegation has many clear advantages, many managers still struggle to do so. The truth is that there are a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding it that can cause some leaders to be hesitant when delegating tasks to others. Here are some suggestions to help you delegate effectively so your team can share the workload and make promising advancements.
- Pick the Best Candidate for the Job
- Justify Your Delegation
- Give the Appropriate Instructions
- Offer Training and Resources
- Delegate Power and Responsibility
- Review the Work and Offer Comments
- Express Gratitude and Appreciation
1. Pick the Best Candidate for the Job
Understanding your employees’ strengths, weaknesses, and preferences is part of being a good leader. So if you are going to delegate a task requiring a lot of collaboration, don’t choose someone who strongly prefers working alone. Assign the job to someone who likes collaborating.
Then consider sitting down with your team and reviewing the list of tasks you want to delegate. Let the team members select the tasks they are most interested in taking over independently. It is another way of building trust with and inspiring engagement among your team.
2. Justify Your Delegation
When assigning a task to someone, it is crucial to explain why you chose to do so. If assigned out of the blue, it will be difficult for the person to know the context and complete the tasks correctly.
- So providing them with complete information about the task will give them a sense of responsibility.
- Let the assigned person know why they were selected and encourage them to see each task as an opportunity to take on new responsibilities or develop new skills.
3. Give the Appropriate Instructions
Every good delegator provides essential and crucial information without meddling in the details.
Give your staff a list of your goals or upcoming milestones, then allow them to approach the problem in their own way. Never strive for perfection or micromanage others because they might carry out tasks differently than you. As long as you find what you’re looking for, it doesn’t matter.
4. Offer Training and Resources
You must ensure that the person assigned a task or project has the materials and tools necessary for success. When giving someone a task, you should make sure they have the tools and knowledge required to finish it, or provide them with a way to acquire those skills.
- Make sure there is a plan for someone to become accustomed to the tool before asking them to use it.
- If you want them to use a tool they haven’t used before, for instance, make sure there is a plan for them to get accustomed to the tool first.
5. Delegate Power and Responsibility
You’ve probably encountered situations where you were given a task but felt you needed to be more in charge. As a result, the job takes longer for both the manager and the employee, the work stalls, and you end up needing assistance.
- When managers fail to delegate responsibility and clear tasks, their staff members eventually report to them and handle some of the work rather than the other way around.
- Promote an atmosphere and culture where individuals feel empowered to decide, inquire, and take the necessary actions to complete the work.
6. Review the Work and Offer Comments
Nothing is worse than a manager giving an employee a task and then blaming them when something goes wrong. Don’t be that manager. Once your team members have completed the work you assigned to them, you can review it to make sure they handled it correctly and offer any feedback that will help them handle the task more effectively in the future.
7. Express Gratitude and Appreciation
When someone completes a task or project, you assigned to them, express your sincere gratitude and highlight specific things they did well or right. Making a note of those details gives people a guide for what they should do to succeed.
- It is a simple step, but many people find it hard to learn.
- Genuine gratitude and appreciation will foster loyalty, ensure complete satisfaction for the work completed, and lay the groundwork for mentoring and performance evaluations.
Delegating is a skill that must be practiced and refined over time. However, the better you get at matching the right people to the right tasks and responsibilities, the more effective you’ll be as a manager. Don’t be afraid to hand over the baton. It may take some practice to become a great delegator, but if you put in the effort, you will all progress.
