As a manager, it’s useful to understand what delegation is and how valuable it can be for you. In fact, any business is usually run by managers operating at various levels who all need to delegate authority and tasks to their team members, so that they themselves can handle more relevant activities.
There are a few essential steps that you will first of all need to understand, so as to be in a better position to delegate tasks effectively.
For many managers, delegating work and authority seems to be nothing more than a means of exercising free will in handing down tasks and responsibilities to others, who must then complete the task assigned to them and be accountable for the outcomes.
It is necessary for you to provide the context within which the work is to be performed. This in turn will mean that you will need to explain the reasons why you need the work done and its importance to the bigger picture of your workplace. Finally, it’s worth sharing where there could be difficulties along the way and how these should be dealt with – if and when the complications arise.
The key to valuable delegation lies in being determined that you do not abdicate your responsibilities. And this in turn will mean that you need to realize that it is not enough to just ask someone to perform a task and then forget about the task or the individual who will be doing the job for you. In fact, delegating tasks involves managing risk and also micromanaging it, yet not the person!
One vital thing you must do in order to delegate tasks or responsibilities, is make a list of activities that are worth delegating. Then you will need to find a team member who you feel is best suited to doing the job at hand. Once you have that person in mind, you must then meet with them and identify the objectives and then create a clear plan of action (which should be realistic).
To delegate work and tasks successfully also requires that you provide the employee your complete support. To do this requires that you identify the resources that are necessary for the employee to perform and complete the work entrusted to them.
As a matter of fact, many companies view delegating tasks to be a means of developing an employee’s capabilities. When you delegate you will be giving an employee more responsibility, which in turn can act as a motivating force for them to complete the task in the manner you require.
After delegating activities, you will then need to look at the work done by the employee and use their performance as a yardstick with which to measure their effectiveness. Someone who performs their delegated work well and shoulders responsibility in a desired manner can be developed further, perhaps leading to later promotion, while an employee that fails to produce desired results may be best left at their existing level.
By keeping your expectations realistic of the employees to whom you are delegating work to start with, they will grow into delegated tasks with confidence.
A good manager who delegates, will be able to manage better and those entrusting new and interesting tasks will be more motivated and committed to their work – and an amazing win-win that works for all.
It is well known that successful leaders are those individuals who comprehend what delegation is and who also have the delegation skills with which to delegate tasks effectively. It’s just one of over 50 management development ‘Lessons’ you can find at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com!
