Leadership Time | 5 Great Tips for Effective Delegation

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Delegation is the act of assigning responsibility or a task to another person. A good leader knows how to delegate well. Delegating well helps save time, and also increases the productivity, competency, and confidence of the team. It can also build a sense of trust and help the team members grow in their careers.

Often, people in a position of authority are reluctant to delegate, or they don’t know how to allocate work effectively. It could be due to the mistaken notion that completing the task would produce quicker and efficient results, as explaining it to someone will require time and effort. In some cases, it could be the hesitation in seeking help, or a selfish motive to be the sole authority in some domain.

Here are five tips for delegating better:

1. Know your team

The first step in managing a team is to get to know your team better which requires maturity and a good understanding of the team’s capabilities. Delegating work to individuals will also help you asses their strengths and areas they need to improve.

2. Prioritising your tasks

Prioritise your tasks according to the degree of effort and the degree of skill. While delegating tasks, the general tendency is to assign it to someone who is least busy at that time.

However, this may not be a good approach. If you are aware of the skill set and the pace of work of your team members, it becomes a lot easier to prioritize and assign work. Being consistent while delegating can play an important role. When similar tasks are assigned to the same individual, it can help enhance his/her efficiency in becoming better at those tasks.

3. Clarity in requirements is essential

A good brief with clear instructions and proper guidance is crucial while delegating. It is unfair to expect the best results from your teammates if you haven’t provided enough clarity on the requirement. It is essential to understand the nature of the tasks before delegating according to their ability to work, take responsibility and also deliver while under stress.

4. Trust your team

Working in isolation is not always favorable. It is practically impossible to manage all the tasks by yourself. If you’ve had trust issues, take courage and let go. Letting your teammates assist you is one way of showing your trust in them. After delegating a task, don’t hesitate to occasionally step in to ensure the work is on track and to provide help, while not being overbearing. Apart from facilitating completion of the task, it helps in bridging any gaps in communication and enhances the relationship you share with the team.

5. Take feedback and give due credit

Delegating tasks is an acquired skill, and it takes time and practice to get better at it. Receiving regular feedback from your teammates on how the delegation is working for them is an excellent way to assess your delegating skill.

Remember to acknowledge those who make your job easy or do an outstanding job. When your teammates don’t succeed, try and understand what went wrong. Constructive criticisms are as crucial as rewards/recognition.

  1. These ideas shared by you for effective delegation are really impressive.

  2. hey, great post. These ideas shared by you for effective delegation are really impressive.

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