A task is delegated when the responsibility of it is given to a less experienced worker, a team member, or an outside collaborator. As a result, you can accomplish more in less time and develop new skills.
When assigning a task, make sure you provide the employee with sufficient power and resources to complete it successfully. Note that delegation should not be used as an excuse to neglect your obligations or put off work.
Tasks are distributed effectively through delegation when it supports the team’s objectives and plays to each individual’s abilities. It aids managers in making the most use of their time, giving tactical over strategic tasks, and concentrating on putting out fires. Delegating responsibilities encourages staff members to take on greater responsibility, pursue leadership opportunities, and advance their careers.
According to Steve Wilson, Founder of ‘Bankdash’, delegation can be awkward and feel phony for many managers. According to research, female executives experience more guilt over delegation than their male counterparts. Compared to men, female managers delegate less and have lower-quality interactions with their subordinates when they do. This is because women managers have more negative associations with delegation.
It’s critical to keep in mind that delegation does not equate to incapacity or poor management. You can use delegation as a tool to speed up your work. Your ability and capacity to spot initiatives that can be carried out by others, who would gain from the experience of executing the work, is also improved.
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Master core delegation skills:
According to Alice Li, Founder of ‘First Day’, you must be explicit when assigning work about your expectations and desired outcomes. Clear, effective communication that includes detailed directions is quite helpful. Consider including a call to action in the subject line of delegation communications. Set down your demands in the email’s body, along with a due date. Having good communication and setting clear expectations are just two of the important delegating abilities. Always acknowledge and appreciate your employees when they perform well.
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Clarify priorities:
It is simpler for you to delegate when you are aware of the importance and difficulty of the duties. If something is important, it must be completed quickly by you or another person. You can then choose whether to complete the task yourself or delegate it, depending on the nature of the assignment. Connecting the team and organizational goals are the best method to make priorities clear. Setting priorities and completing high-impact projects are simpler when you and your team are clear on why your job matters.
Put all of your team’s work into a single repository of information, such as a project management tool, if you haven’t done so already. Everyone will be able to see exactly what is being done when and for what reasons.
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Trust but verify:
After assigning a task to a team member, attempt to step back and allow them the room they require to do it. According to Kathryn McDavid, CEO of ‘Editor’s Pick’, make sure to check in with them sometimes to make sure they don’t require any further help while remaining detached enough to convey your trust in your staff. However, the success of the task ultimately rests with you. Implement a review cycle or follow-up phase to evaluate the work that was completed and, if necessary, steer it in the proper direction if this is your first time delegating this kind of job.
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Give credit where it’s due:
Other team members have the chance to learn new skills and get engaged in significant projects when work is delegated effectively. As soon as the task is over, make sure the team member who did the work is given credit.
If you’ve previously completed the work, other cross-functional team members may give you credit for it. Don’t claim credit for someone else’s labor, and be sure to thank your teammate for a job well done.
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Practice letting go:
According to Susan Melony, CEO of ‘Cool Stuff’, delegation can be challenging for new managers and leaders because you’re entrusting someone else with crucial tasks. Most likely, you feel a sense of responsibility and connection to your work. It’s important to learn how to delegate, but you shouldn’t feel uneasy doing it all the time. Instead, get used to delegating little tasks at first before progressing to greater ones. Be patient with yourself and the other members of your team. Developing your delegating abilities will take time.
Additionally, team members can take longer to complete this assignment than you would. However, by assigning tasks, you provide team members the chance to grow professionally over time while also clearing one more thing off your to-do list.
