Delegation
Delegation is managing your team effectively. Use delegation as a motivator and a show of trust in your team.
Delegation in a hurry
Use this checklist as a quick reminder of the key points to successful delegation:
- Allocating decision making and other responsibilities to the appropriate subordinates
- Consider what tasks should be delegated
- Decide who they should be delegated to
- Consider the level of competence/experience of the individual you are delegating to
- Brief them on the task and particularly the outcome required, tailoring the briefing to the person you are delegating to
- Monitor progress and assist/coach as appropriate
Delegation in detail
The steps to successful delegation
Positive examples
- Assigns tasks or projects to the appropriate people and make time to brief them
- Encourage them to make decisions in their areas of expertise
Negative examples
- Keep the interesting work for yourself
- Don't ensure that they are adequately briefed
- Make all the decisions yourself
Developing delegation
- List the behaviours of someone who you believe is a good delegator and consider any changes you could make
- Review typical daily tasks and consider how these could be delegated
Helping others to develop delegation
- Ask the individual to list the behaviours which someone who you both believe is a good delegator
- Delegate decisions in some areas of expertise and review with them afterwards
- Define the team member's accountability and responsibilities against those of other team members to heighten awareness of delegation
- Visit the team member's team meeting to observe the how they delegate and provide feedback
- Discuss the individual's typical daily tasks, ask them to tell you how they could be delegated
- Give the individual additional tasks where the job content is unfamiliar to force the delegation process