QwikCoach often talks about effective delegation and what leaders can do to improve their ability to delegate.
Here are some additional tips we think you’ll find helpful.
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Start with a plan.
Figure out what skills are needed for the task to be delegated, who has them or can quickly develop them, and set a date for completion.
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Provide clear direction.
Prevent misunderstanding by being clear, having written guidelines, and providing a specific way for people to ask questions about the assignment and get answers.
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Tell people what and when — leave the how to them.
Though for many leaders, trust is key when it comes to delegation it’s also important to believe that your way is NOT the only or best way. Give people a goal and let them figure out how best to achieve it in the given timeframes.
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Allocate extra time for delegated tasks.
Building in extra time and making sure you have a shared buy in when it comes to the deadline will increase the chances of a successful delegated task getting done right and on time.
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Close the circle.
Make sure that others who may be involved with or affected by the task also know that you’ve delegated it to someone else. This will insure that they respond appropriately whenever they’re involved. Also make certain you have assigned adequate resources for completing the task.
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Follow up regularly.
Keep in touch with what’s going on with the delegated task and make certain there is nothing more you can do to help or support the effort. Delegating is not synomous with “washing your hands” of it altogether.
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Acknowledge and provide targeted feedback.
Give praise and recognition when a task is completed and let those who did the work get the deserved credit. Don’t lose the value of the delegation by taking the credit yourself.
More about Delegating . . . .
Let’s make delegation less boring and more automatic. Delegation is simply the process of achieving goals and the means to becoming a more successful leader.
Delegation is often cited as the major tool of great leaders. But it sounds so . . . well boring. The steps of how to delegate are often shared, and as often ignored. What’s the best way to motivate yourself and others to make the delegation process work more smoothly and also happen more frequently? One idea might be to ditch the way we think about delegation. “Reframe it” by thinking about delegation as a new way to achieve the exciting vision and goals you have set for yourself and the organization.
As a process, it’s the method you use to accomplish not only the goals you need to achieve but also provides a way to develop the people that work with you. It is not only not boring, it is a process/method with two (not just one) great outcomes — one that helps you and one that helps others!
Actually, a savvy leader is always thinking about the process of delegation as soon as goals are set. Who is the best person to accomplish this and who would do that well and gain from the experience? An effective leader is always considering ways to create results faster and better and therefore delegation — a highly effective process for achieving goals — is never distant from a leader’s desire to achieve the best results.
When viewed through this lens, delegation becomes less a should do and more a must do — an essential part of effective leadership and sound management.
Now how you delegate is easy to figure out — the biggest plus for your leadership success quotient will be making it an automatic next step to achieving your goals.
More for QwikCoach Users
- YouTube Video
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Two Elements For Effective Delegation — by Marshall Goldsmith
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- Additional Reading