This week we move on to part two of The Art of Delegation. Now that you know when to delegate and who to delegate to, we’ll look at the actual process of delegating work to others. The following advice should make it easier for you to delegate:
- First you need to make it clear what you want. You need to explain it fully so that the person knows exactly what you want them to do. It might be useful to include the reasons for the project, what it’s for and how it will benefit the company, and the person you are delegating to, as well.
- Next, you need to make it clear where the boundaries of their authority end. This means when they have queries should they:
- ask you what to do?
- make decisions for themselves?
- act and then report to you?
- recommend possible action and then wait for confirmation?
- You should try to include the person you are delegating to in the delegation process. This way you give them the chance to discuss what is happening and offer their opinion as to what should be handed over to them and when.
- Keep in mind that the person you are delegating to is just that. They don’t own the responsibility for the project, it remains yours. So, if something goes wrong – the buck stops with you.
- Make sure you are there to offer help when it’s needed. Make time to answer questions and offer advice on the project if it’s needed.
- Don’t allow ‘upward delegation’. If the person hits a problem, don’t allow them to shift the responsibility back to you and don’t give them the answer. Ask them to come up with possible solutions for the problem and then offer your advice.
- Allow the person to make their own decisions about how they want to complete the work. You may feel your way is best, but everyone has their own way of doing things. And, if you let someone else do the work, they may come up with a much better way of doing it.
- Focus on their success. If the person does a particularly good job, tell them that. Be encouraging and positive.
- Read all the work you are given thoroughly and make sure that it is how you want. If it’s not, make sure you hand it back to the delegated person for correction with a detailed account of why it’s wrong and how you’d like it putting right too!
- Keep control of the situation. Make sure you get the person you’ve chosen to feedback to you on an agreed schedule. This will allow you to check the progress of the project and make adjustments if it’s going wrong.
Use these rules when you delegate and you should be fine. If you have other hints or tips about delegation, please let me know.
Written by Shelley Bowers
