One of the biggest challenges for many business owners when trying to grow a business is mastering the art of delegation. Without successful delegation, business growth is limited and you continue to be the busiest, hardest working employee. Here are some steps to help master the art of delegation.
Do you ever find yourself:
• Believing that no one else can do the job as well as you can?
• Thinking that you don’t have enough time to delegate and it would be faster to handle everything yourself?
The Challenge: Delegating Effectively Without Overstepping or Abandoning the Task
Delegation means getting others to handle part of your workload, essentially sharing your responsibilities. When this is done well, it can lighten your load while encouraging growth in your team.
Effective Delegation Means:
• Delegating a task while still maintaining ultimate responsibility.
• Giving someone responsibility and authority to carry out a task, then allowing them the freedom to complete it while offering your support and motivation.
Common Delegation Pitfalls to Avoid:
1. Dumping – It’s tempting to pass off tasks you dislike or are too busy to handle. However, if you simply unload work without proper guidance, clarity, or a sense of purpose, it leads to poor results and frustration for the person you delegate to.
2. Micromanaging – If you find yourself constantly checking in or offering unsolicited advice, the person you’ve delegated to may feel undermined, which can lead to poor results and disengagement.
- How to Delegate Successfully:
1. Set Clear Boundaries – Determine what level of decision-making authority the person has: - Can they make decisions independently?
- Do they need to report to you first?
- Should they consult with you before making a decision?
2. Be Specific – Instead of delegating fragmented tasks, aim to delegate whole projects or processes. This offers the person a greater sense of accomplishment and helps them fully grasp the scope of the job.
3. Communicate the Benefits – Clarify how the delegated task will benefit
- The individual: Opportunities for growth, skill development, and recognition.
- The team: Improved collaboration and shared responsibility.
4. Anticipate Potential Issues – Consider what could go wrong and proactively provide the necessary support to ensure success.
5. Gain Agreement and Buy-In – Don’t just assign tasks. Engage the person in the process, especially if they are independent or entrepreneurial. Help them understand the benefits of the task and empower them to “own” it. Then, step back and let them take control.
6. Ensure Clear Communication – Inform the rest of the team that authority has been delegated, making it clear that the individual is responsible for completing the task.
7. Review and Provide Feedback – Regularly assess progress, offer constructive feedback, and evaluate the outcome together. This helps ensure continuous improvement and accountability.
Mastering delegation is not just about sharing the workload; it’s about building trust, developing others, and fostering a productive environment where everyone thrives.
Exercise 1.
Think of a time when someone has asked you to do something when you have been unsure what they really want or thought you had completed a task, only to find you got it completely wrong.
How did it feel?
What could have been done better to get a better result?
Exercise 2.
Think of an example of when you were asked to do something which was explained fully with a clear idea of the what the end result would be, the timeframe and any resources being made available to you.
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