Andrew Carnegie once said, “No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit.” True then. True today. To be a great leader, one of the most important skills to master is the art of effective delegation. Delegation of authority when done right is beneficial to everyone. For a manager, it helps ease her workload while an employee receives a very valid confirmation that her boss trusts her to do the work. With remote and hybrid work gaining prominence, it is important to figure out effective delegation, so that employees do not feel micromanaged.
What is good delegation?
The art of effective delegation hinges on the work of an effective leader. The difference between an effective leader and an over-achieving individual contributor is effective delegation. To move up the ladder, you must empower your team to do the tasks you are responsible for, so that you can move on to better things.
Although it seems difficult, a leader must take a step back just enough to be less involved but also be there to lend a hand when needed. Good delegation calls for a fine balancing act as it requires one to shape the outcome without being too involved in the day-to-day intricacies. One must be aware of the common mistakes involved while delegating. Properly utilizing the unique assets each person brings to the team is a key factor of delegation in the workplace.
Although delegation is not an easy skill, like all other skills it can be learned and honed with practice. Successful delegation involves tolerating mistakes, encouraging peers, and providing others with learning opportunities.
What are the 3 steps of delegation?
1. Explain your reason
People work best when they are motivated and feel valued for their unique contributions. Before assigning a project to someone, leaders must reveal why they picked the employee to handle the assignment. Receiving vocal affirmation of their skills and talents will make them want to prove your right. Along with this, a manager must explain what is at stake and how the employee fits into the picture. Clear communication is key to letting your employee know what is expected of them. As a chef once said, “Tell me what you want, not how to prepare it.” Successful delegation means that employees are clear on the end-goal – to take control of the process and steer the ship to where it should be.
2. Engage and disengage as needed
Deciding what not to do is just as important as deciding what to do. As a leader, it is important to stay involved with your team. But the degree to which you are involved must shift as you let your team handle responsibilities. To pick the right method, you need to check-in consistently to understand what works for each person. While some would want you to be more involved at the start, others might prefer more autonomy and approach you when they require some guidance. Delegation in the workplace can sometimes veer off course. To avoid this, for tasks with a short turnaround, set a timeline and check-in date while for longer projects, you can set broad goals and explain the milestones, interspersed with regular check-ins. Effective delegation is one of the top leadership qualities that serve a catalyst in fostering growth.
3. Empower Others
Bentley University professor Aaron Nurick analyzed data from 1,000 business professionals and found that a majority of them wanted the freedom to fail and learn from their mistakes. Most employees want leaders to give them room to discover things for themselves. When employees are given the opportunity to tackle issues and come up with their own solutions, they feel empowered to take on additional responsibilities and grow to their potential. Giving timely feedback is also a part of the successful delegation and nurturing leadership. Effective delegation increases productivity and builds morale.
Last, but not least, employees must be given a roadmap on the structure and hierarchy (where applicable) so that there is no confusion in your absence.
