Delegation in Leadership: Best Practices
Distributing and entrusting work to another person is a vital skill for any leader who wants to achieve more with less, develop team members and create a culture of trust and collaboration. However, many professionals struggle with delegating effectively, either because they don’t know how to do it or because they fear losing control or quality.
However, the benefits of handing over tasks to others can far outweigh the potential risks. According to Forbes, CEOs who are skilled at delegation can increase their company’s revenue by 33%. These executives understand that it is impossible to manage every task alone and instead assign important responsibilities to their teams based on their strengths.
This approach not only boosts employees’ confidence but also improves employee morale and productivity. As a result, CEOs can then focus on high-impact initiatives that drive company growth and generate significant returns.
How to Plan, Communicate and Allocate
Assigning tasks and expecting results is an extremely simplified view of the process. Proper delegation involves careful planning, communication and follow-up to ensure clarity and alignment. Here are a few best practices for making that happen:
- Choose the right tasks. Not everything can or should be delegated. Some items are better suited to hand off than others, depending on the complexity, urgency, importance and relevance of that activity to the team’s goals and skills. A good rule of thumb is to entrust tasks that are routine, repetitive or low risk to others, while keeping those that are more critical, strategic, high-risk or confidential.
- Choose the right person. Consider an employee’s skills, experience, interests, availability and potential before assigning tasks. Delegate to someone with the ability and the willingness to perform, or who can learn and grow from the challenge. Make sure that person has the time and the resources to complete the task and understands the overall outcome.
- Communicate clearly and effectively. To avoid confusion, misunderstanding or frustration, explain in detail the task being delegated. Include details such as the purpose, the expectations, the deadline, the resources available and the authority level needed for certain actions. Always check for understanding and be open to any questions or feedback.
- Provide support and guidance. Delegating does not mean dumping or micromanaging. Find a healthy balance between giving autonomy and offering feedback. Monitoring the task’s progress in order to intervene or make adjustments is not necessary unless the task is complex or of high importance.
- Recognize and reward team members. Delegating is not only a way to get things done, but also a way to motivate and develop employees. Celebrate any achievements or contributions made by the person who took on the task. By providing positive feedback and acknowledging effort, team members will feel encouraged to take on more challenges and responsibilities.
How to Manage Expectations
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is recognizing and understanding that the process to achieve a desired outcome can look different depending on the situation. When delegating a task to someone else, stay open-minded and confident that it will be completed. Many roads can lead to the same destination.
Everyone has differing skillsets and experience as well. Steve may know exactly where to find the sales numbers because he’s familiar with the software from a previous job, while Brenda may excel at calling vendors because of her outgoing personality. Both can handle the delegated task of contacting a company about last year’s sales numbers. However, Brenda may spend more time learning the software and finding the data while Steve may wait longer working through email instead of making a quick call. In the end, both get the job done satisfactorily but their paths were different.
Always stay flexible and don’t let a setback or issue prevent further delegation. If possible, take the time to understand the problem and how it can be resolved in the future instead of simply deciding to never hand off that particular job again. Releasing control of a task or project can be extremely challenging, but the more often it’s done, the easier it gets.
A Powerful Tool
The ability to delegate is a critical component of effective leadership for anyone hoping to develop a cohesive team, maximize output with minimal resources and create a culture of trust and cooperation. But it’s critical to realize that successful execution involves more than just assigning work and crossing fingers for a job well done. It’s a complicated process that needs to be carefully planned, communicated clearly and continuously monitored to guarantee team accountability, clarity and alignment.
Delegation creates a sense of accountability and ownership among team members, which can lead to a motivated and productive workforce. It is a powerful tool for leaders and a necessary skill for people who wish to steer their businesses toward long-term success while juggling the intricacies of modern organizational dynamics.
