How To Effectively Delegate

If you are honest, delegating effectively is probably one of the toughest challenges you face and you are not alone. Managers in all types and size of business avoid delegating for a a whole host of reasons. I wonder how many of the following you recognize:

• They don’t understand the need to delegate

• They lack confidence in team to do what they require

• They claim they don’t know how to delegate

• Maybe they have tried and failed in the past so have a built in resistance to trying again

• Maybe they like doing a particular job so don't want to let go of it

• Perhaps they don’t understand their role as a manager and how it is different to being on the team

• Sometimes they may be frightened of making themselves seem easily replaced if others can do tasks that they previously did

• They think they have no time to delegate

• They think there is nobody to delegate to

So how can you be more effective at delegating?

1. Plan it in advance

2. Think exactly what you want done

3. Consider guidance needed

4. Brief appropriately and check understanding

5. Establish review dates and check understanding

6. Create a buffer period so that there is time for revisions as required

7. Delegate whole jobs, where possible

8. Inform others who are involved

9. Stand back, don’t hover

10. Recognize work may not be done exactly the way you would do it

11. Delegate responsibility as well as task

Remember at the end of the day delegating allows you to do what you are recognized as being good at-getting results through others.