5 tips for better delegation
When it comes to tasks in the workplace, our first instinct is to often try to take everything on ourselves. Whether you believe it would be quicker to do the job yourself than to explain the brief and hand it over to someone else or that you’re the only one who can do the job right, there are a number of reasons we are not as good at delegating as we like.
That said, delegation is a vital skill for any team leader, supervisor, or manager. Not only does it free up some much-needed time in your schedule, but it also helps to engage your employees and empower them.
Ineffective delegation, on the other hand, can result in poorer communication, collaboration and team morale. It can waste time, resources, and impede the growth of your employees. If you are involved in any leadership role in an organisation, learning how to delegate effectively is a must.
Delegating, like any skill, takes time and practice to perfect. Below are some of the ways you can start.
01. Know what to delegate
Delegation isn’t carte blanche to give all your work away; it should be used to improve efficiency and progress as a team.
Tasks that can be delegated generally include:
- Low priority tasks
- Repetitive tasks and recurring projects
- Groundwork (collecting resources, research, data entry)
- Tasks involving your weaknesses (or team members’ strengths)
- Tasks that go beyond your job description
- Tasks that would be beneficial for your team’s development
- Fun/interesting tasks to boost morale
02. Know your team’s strengths and goals
The best thing about a team is the diverse skills and experiences members bring to the table. When it comes to delegation, this can be a vital asset.
Different members of your team may be well-versed in areas that you and others in the group are not. They could be more tech-oriented and have experience with certain software or processes, they could be more detail-focused, or they may be more word-savvy.
Know what your team members are interested in and good at and assign tasks accordingly. This can also help reinforce their identity within the team and make them feel more involved in the workplace.
03. Provide the right resources for the job
Do your team members have the right instructions to complete the task to the appropriate standard? Are the scope and deliverables sufficiently outlined?
If you simply assign one of your team members a task without giving them the tools they need to accomplish it, you are just piling work on their plate. Make sure that they have access to the people, programs, and organisational resources necessary to complete the task.
04. Keep clear communication channels
Clear communication is the key to a successful project. As mentioned, you should make sure that you are clear about your expectations, the project timeline and any deliverables.
Ensure that you are available to clarify and assist on the project if needed. You don’t want to be hanging over their shoulder, but checking in and monitoring progress is essential to make sure that your employee is on the right track. They should feel comfortable coming to you to ask any questions, for feedback, and to report their progress.
05. Share the credit where it’s due
Acknowledge the efforts of your team members and make sure that they get their fair share of the accolades for a job well done. This can boost morale and make people feel more involved with the work that they do, contributing to a stronger team and organisational culture.
Want to improve your delegation skills? TrainEQ’s ‘Delegation and Empowering’ course is the perfect way to gain the skills needed to not only effectively delegate, but empower team members to take charge of their assigned tasks.