Managers Delegating Successfully

Especially when under stress, one tends to not take the time, to delegate, but just during times of pressure, it pays off to take the time to delegate. Delegation has numerous advantages:

Delegation…

• Takes work off your desk to free up time for more important tasks

• Promotes the independence and competence of your team

• Contributes to the motivation and satisfaction of your team

Are you prepared to delegate?

Check every task that you carry out, if you actually need to do it yourself or if you can delegate it, and if so, to whom. Do you frequently answer the delegation question with "no"? Be honest and ask yourself, if you actually want to delegate and why this is so difficult for you. Perhaps you don’t like the fact that someone else is earning your cudos? Perhaps you want to be indespensable? Perhaps, secretively, you like being constantly under pressure and moan about it? These are provocative assumptions – but truly and honestly – perhaps these have been the reasons up to now that you rarely and reluctantly delegate.

On a daily basis, try to pass on as much work as is acceptable within the capacities of your team. Also remember, that you should explore the possibilities of external service providers.

Are you able to delegate correctly?

When delegating you should observe the following rules:

Explain to the delegate….

• What he/she has to do (content)

• Why he/she has to carry out the task
    (motivation, aim, background, situation, need)

• How he/she has to do the task (extent, details)

• By when the job has to be done (timelines)

In other words, the goal should be SMART:

Specific

Measurable

Agreed

Realistic

Timed

Make the job at hand as transparent as possible and exactly in this space you have to invest the time. It is no use, to hand the file as a by the way or drop it on someone's desk with an obscure note. The only thing you will achieve is a confused team member and a bad result. Hence, explain the task patiently and ensure that the delegate has fully understood your instructions.

Build in some timeline contingency, should you need to correct some items. You should let your team member complete the task, even if it means making some corrections. This avoids your delegate becoming frustrated and gives him/her the feeling of having completed a task satisfactorily.

Remember – if the result is completely wrong, you also need to blame yourself. It means that your explanations have been lacking and you did not ensure that your instructions were properly understood.

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