Business leaders have a lot of responsibilities. It’s impossible to do everything yourself. Fortunately, leveraging the hard work and support of your team can amplify your effectiveness as a leader. Unfortunately, delegating work doesn’t come naturally. We often cling to tasks that we are sure we can do better ourselves. If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone. One study found that 70% of people in leadership positions are uncomfortable delegating work. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to delegate more effectively.
Learn How To Effectively Delegate Work As A Small Business Owner
1. Identify Which Tasks Should Be Delegated
As leaders, we must spend our time wisely. Unfortunately, many of us get pulled into tasks that keep us from the things that are truly important. Sit down and make a list of all the tasks that you complete on a regular basis. From this list, evaluate each item and decide if you are bringing the most value to your organisation by personally doing this task. If the answer is no, you should delegate it to someone else on your team. Just because something is important doesn’t mean you have to personally handle it.
2. Match The Task With The Right Person
Each member of your team brings different strengths. When delegating tasks, carefully consider whether the individual has the right skill set to execute the task successfully. For example, if John is better at analytical work than Rachel, compiling a financial report may be better suited for John.
While it’s usually best to play to each person’s strengths and weaknesses, you can also try assigning tasks based on an employee’s career goals. Perhaps Rachel has expressed interest in learning to be more analytical. This task could give her an opportunity to expand her skill set and get some hands-on experience. The best delegators will match the right task with the right person, improving efficiency and output from your team members.
3. Outline Desired Outcomes
It can be extremely difficult to trust another person to complete a task to your level of expectation. Instead of just doing the work yourself, take the time to help them understand what you are trying to accomplish. Set expectations on the desired outcome. While some cases may require that you provide specific, step-by-step instructions, it’s usually better just to provide an expectation of the end result and let them work to meet those requirements. They may come up with a better solution on their own if you give them the freedom to be creative. Delegating tasks by explaining where you want the result or outcome to be, rather than how to get there, can not only help improve your own skills, but also the skills of your team.
4. Provide Resources And Authority
If the task requires help from experts on the team or access to useful information, make sure that those resources are made available to them when delegating. You want your employee to have everything they need to be successful. In addition, make sure they know what level of authority they are being granted. Do they need to have you review and approve the final product? Or, do they have the authority to simply complete the task and update you when it's finished.
5. Set A Deadline
Most business tasks need to be completed within a certain time frame. If the task you are delegating is time-sensitive, let the employee know that upfront. Be sure to factor in enough time to review and correct any mistakes if needed. If the employee runs into any challenges that could impact the delivery date, encourage them to notify you as soon as possible.
6. Provide Feedback And Recognition
Once the task is complete, it’s important to provide the employee with feedback. Let them know what they did really well and what could be improved for next time. This not only helps them improve their skills but also allows you to identify weaknesses in your delegation process. Don’t forget to give credit and recognition for a job well done! Improving your management skills is something you should always be looking to work on.
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