Introduction

Delegation is not just about getting things done. It also allows us to grow as leaders, build relationships with our team members, and ultimately achieve better results for the business. Delegation can be intimidating at first, but it's an essential skill for any successful leader.

Why is delegation important?

Delegation is important because it allows you to get more done in less time. It also helps you focus on the things that are most important for your business, and frees up your time to get more done. Delegating can also help develop other people’s skills and abilities, as they gain experience from implementing tasks as they would with any other project they have worked on before.

So how do you start delegating?

Delegating tasks can seem a bit daunting at first. It’s natural to want to control everything, especially when you are the one who is ultimately responsible for the success of your project or business. However, delegating will help you make better use of your time and resources while also allowing others to develop their skills and become more invested in the process.

In order to effectively delegate, you need a clear idea of what you want the outcome of the task to be. For example:

• Do you need this project finished by tomorrow?

• Will this person be able to finish it without any assistance from me?

• If not, at what point would I need to step in?

Whom do you delegate to?

First and foremost, always delegate to people who you know will do a good job. If you don’t have confidence in the person or their ability to perform the task, it is probably not worth delegating it in the first place.

Secondly, don’t delegate tasks to someone who won't be able to handle it. For example, if they are going through a stressful time at work such as high level management or they are having personal issues in their private life that could influence their performance when it comes time for them to handle your delegated task(s).

Lastly, don't delegate anything that may cause stress on yourself or other team members if done incorrectly (e.g., accounting).

Make sure you define an outcome.

The most important step when delegating is to define an outcome. If you don’t, your team will be left to their own devices and have no clear direction in which to go. The outcome should be specific, measurable, realistic and achievable (SMART).

For example:

• An outcome might be “Improve the conversion rate of our checkout page by 5% over the next two weeks”.

• Or “We want a new product webpage up and running by Friday”.

Make sure you give clear instructions.

As a manager, it's important that you give clear instructions. When delegating a task, make sure that you are specific and use examples to show exactly what you want done. It's also important not to assume that your instructions are clear or that people will automatically know what you mean.

For example, if there is something about a project which needs clarification, don't just ask for feedback on the work done so far; ask for specific feedback on the steps leading up from where they are now (i.e., "What would be helpful?").

How will you monitor the results and outcomes?

Once you've delegated a task, it's important to monitor the results and outcomes. Will your team members complete their assignments on time? Will they need any additional resources or help?

Monitoring your team's progress is also an opportunity for you to provide feedback. If they're not completing tasks within the designated timeframe, ask them what may be causing them difficulties. If they are struggling with certain tasks, offer assistance by first asking if there would be any value in explaining how you would approach the task differently or if there are other ways that they could complete it more efficiently.

If after providing this assistance, a team member still isn't meeting expectations—or if he or she is unable to perform at a level that meets standards—you may need to revisit this employee's role within your business and consider either delegating additional responsibilities or letting him or her go from his position altogether.

Give yourself enough time to monitor the progress of your delegation.

One of the most important things to remember when delegating is to give yourself enough time to monitor the progress of your delegation. Monitoring is important because it allows you to make sure that your expectations are being met and that the task is being completed in a timely manner.

Be prepared to ask your team questions.

Be prepared to ask your team questions. The more you know, the better you can ensure tasks are understood, that the right person is doing the task, and that it’s getting done at the right time in order to get results.

They need to understand why they are doing the task, not just what they are doing.

This is a really important point to keep in mind, but it's also one that many managers do not. A good manager will ensure that their staff understands why they are doing the task, not just what they are doing and how they are doing it. If you want to delegate effectively, make sure your employees know:

• Why the task was assigned

• What outcome must be achieved

• When it needs to be completed by

• What resources you have available for them

Delegation when done properly allows more time for you to get on with more pressing things and at the same time gives other team members a chance to grow and develop their abilities.

Delegation when done properly allows more time for you to get on with more pressing things and at the same time gives other team members a chance to grow and develop their abilities.

In a business environment, delegation is not just about getting other people to do your work. It’s about empowering them with the authority and responsibility they need to do their best work in the most efficient way possible.

Conclusion

We hope this article has given you some insight into how delegation can help improve your business and make it more efficient. It can be a little daunting to start delegating, but we recommend that you take small steps at first. If you're not sure who should do what, then just try dividing up the tasks among different members of your team and see how they get on. You'll soon see how well they work together!