Weekly Digest I June 30, 2021

Issue No. 19 - June 30, 2021

Delegation offers many benefits to managers, direct reports and organizations. And yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underutilized techniques in leadership practice.

Delegation is a critical element to increased productivity because it allows leaders to focus on the things that they are uniquely positioned and/or required to do. It also clears the organizational bottleneck, by not making all work dependent on the leader’s input.

With the increasing number of projects and a long list of To-Dos, we all agree that we cannot do it all alone and admit that delegation can help us become much more efficient and effective. So how can leaders utilize delegation more regularly and effectively to help them achieve their goals?

Consider following these important steps.

Photo by nakanidore from Freepik

STEP 1:
Decide what to delegate.
Start with a small project or one that doesn’t have to be completed in a specific way. This keeps the temperature low and the end goal in sight.

Photo by tirachardz from Freepik

STEP 2:
Pick the right person or group.
Take time to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team. Select people you’re confident can do the job well. They should be self-motivated and comfortable working without constant supervision.

Photo by pressfoto from Freepik

STEP 3:
Provide adequate training. Even when you have the right people for the job, you may still need to offer training to build their skill and efficacy, particularly when the work is new for them. Work with them to figure that piece out, and thus help them feel ready to assume this responsibility.

Photo by pressfoto from Freepik

STEP 4:
Offer clarity about the expected outcome. Include timelines and deliverables and provide a template or guidelines for the project. The more you can spell out, in detail, what a strong outcome looks like, the less the risk of subsequent confusion or error.

Photo by pressfoto from Freepik

STEP 5:
Grant the necessary authority. Supply the control and leeway for your co-worker to find the best approach on their own. This increases creativity and initiative while boosting self-esteem.

Photo by klingsup from Freepik

STEP 6:
Learn to trust your team. Trust is the single most crucial element to effective delegation and teamwork. You have to believe in your people to empower them.

Photo mumemories from Freepik

STEP 7:
Be prepared to assist. You may need to delegate the task as a whole but can often still assist here or there. This can be a bit tricky. Many leaders want to avoid micromanagement and feel that they need to step back and give over the reins once they delegate. But a hands-off management style isn’t a very good idea. You need to get the balance right.

Photo by benzoix from Freepik

STEP 8:
Create a delegation culture. Give your direct reports permission to remind you when you haven’t delegated something that you should. No one wants to be viewed as criticizing the boss, so emphasize that you are open to and expect this kind of input. Also, make clear to others that they should ask for it if they see a task they want to take on.

By following these steps, leaders can become more conscientious of the need to delegate and better equip others in their workplace to assume responsibility with skill and confidence.

Source: SmartBrief

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