Delegation is a vital skill to have in your arsenal if you are planning to become a successful manager and leader. These 9 steps will help you delegate effectively and efficiently.
Effective delegation will enable you to develop good people, it will save you time, and it will give your business the characteristics of a well-oiled machine. Poor delegation will get you frustration, poor task execution, and a group of demotivated employees.
So we here at Specialty Engraving, believe that delegation is a skill worth improving.
What exactly is it that you need to delegate? Does it meet your predetermined criteria for delegation?
Why are you choosing this person? Do they have what it takes to accomplish the task? What are you going to get out of it? What are they going to get out of it?
Is this person capable of the task? Is additional training required? Do they clearly understand what is required of them?
Explain the reasons why you are delegating. Where does it fit into the overall plan of the company? Why is it important that they execute this task?
What are you trying to achieve? Have them explain to you, in their own words, what they are expected to accomplish. Let them know exactly how you will measure their success.
Define what people, locations, supplies, and resources will be required to get the job done.
Agree on a set time for the task to be completed. Set checkpoints along the way and decide when those will need to be reported.
Think about the other people that may need to be involved to support and guide the selected person through the task. Make your delegate aware of certain politics (i.e.- don’t go bragging about what you are doing, keep in mind that some departments may not need to know what you are doing). Also, if you have a boss yourself, you may need to inform them of what and to whom you have delegated.
Did your delegate accomplish everything you requested of them? Did they enjoy handling this responsibility? Do you still believe you have selected the correct person for the job? You have to reward successes and adjust for failures.