“If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.” – Richard Branson, British entrepreneur
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you know there are things you shouldn’t be doing? Do you sometimes feel it is easier for you to simply do them rather than have someone else take them on? Do you find it difficult to delegate because you feel others will not do the task as well as you can or the way you would do it?
These are common thoughts that leaders and managers have about delegating activities and tasks. Here are some ideas on how you may become a more effective delegator and a better leader.
- Why is this goal or activity important to you? Do you have a clear outline of expectations? Having a clear and defined plan is critical to success and everyone being on the “same page.”
- Who are you trusting with these delegated responsibilities? It is important that you think carefully about the people on your team and who would be most suited and challenged by taking on a delegated activity.
- What are they expected to do? By clearly discussing the objectives and ensuring they truly understand what is expected of them, there is less chance of failure or disappointment on your part.
- When do you expect realistic completion of the tasks? Setting an agreed upon deadline and intermediate check-ins is important to monitoring progress without constantly interfering.
- How are they expected to complete the tasks? What resources are available to them? How available are you if they need clarification, further input or some guidance?
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President
When you delegate you need to step back and allow your people to do the work. Your role is to monitor and review as it proceeds. You cannot expect them to do it exactly the way you would. If you find something not quite how you would do it, it’s a good time to ask why was it important to them to do it in a certain way?
Delegation is a leadership tool which helps you develop, engage and challenge your employees. It also allows you to do your important work.
“The first rule of management is delegation. Don’t try and do everything yourself because you can’t.” – Anthea Turner, British media personality
By Paul Abra, Certified Executive Coach, Motivated Coaching
