Jeffrey Camp
All too often, delegating work-related responsibilities is viewed as the unloading of unwanted tasks onto another. But that is not the case; delegation is a matter of trust and confidence in the person, or persons, to whom you are delegating.
Being an effective and efficient leader relies on delegating tasks and responsibilities to the other members of your team. Since you can’t viably micromanage your staff all the time, you need to delegate confidently, with faith in the people you have hired and assurance that they are capable of the charge.
The keys to successful delegation in a large company revolve around the following tasks:
1. Form teams that are capable and well-trained before delegating
First and foremost, it is essential to have the right people on staff to delegate responsibility to. If you make the hiring decisions for your company, look for a strong team of colleagues with diverse skill-sets. Ideally, this will make delegating important tasks much easier, especially if you have provided a process for them in which to follow that is well-communicated and repeatable.
2. Identify strengths and weakness in individuals when assigning tasks
Next, it’s important to evaluate the skill set of each individual to determine the best fit and appropriate delegations for each member of your team. You will want to take time and care to evaluate the inherent strengths of your staff, so take a chance and give those assignments that will allow you to measure and gauge what they are best at. If someone doesn’t complete a task as desired, there may be another area where they would be more successful.
3. Foster positivity
When you delegate responsibilities well, it sends a message to those to whom you delegate that they are competent and respected. It instills confidence in your team and validates their value to the business. At the same time, delegating tasks allows you to entrust important responsibilities to those who are best able to handle them, insuring they are completed satisfactorily. This leadership cycle creates a work environment that is both positive and professional.
4. Take responsibility for all consequences
Ultimately, if something slips through the cracks or isn’t completed up to par, it falls to the leader and delegator’s shoulders. Even the most effective delegation requires oversight to ensure tasks are executed properly. Be sure to make timely evaluations of your delegated chores and productivity, which is necessary to optimize results, with proper metrics of quality, time, and risk in place.
5. Bring out the best in others
It is said that the genius in some is the ability to bring out the genius in others. Delegation of responsibilities is a leadership skill that is worth honing. Any entrepreneur will find that delegating tasks to their hired team helps the business run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively, freeing up your time for other matters, such as contemplating and initiating future growth.
