You will know the importance of delegation if you are a manager or a leader. With many responsibilities added to your role as a manager, it becomes difficult to work on every task you have on your list. Hence, it becomes important for you to learn the skill to delegate work. If you are working your way up the hierarchy and are trying to learn skills that will help you get there, add this skill to your list of assignments.
When you lead a team, you might have multiple projects to work on at once; getting smaller tasks done by others will be helpful in completing those projects on time. A manager must attend meetings, plan and coordinate projects, and work on solutions simultaneously. Delegation is an act where you assign your jobs to your team members and get them done while you focus on the important tasks that require your attention.
You can get better at this skill by learning and practicing with time. Let’s discuss how it works and how you can use this skill to your advantage.
1. Get used to the idea of delegating your tasks
When you are someone who loves doing their work, it becomes difficult for you to make someone else do your work. People who lack trust in their employees struggle while delegating their tasks further, as they can’t decide which tasks can be delegated.
Start with understanding your employees’ strengths and weaknesses, as that will help you decide who is better for what task. Assign them with easier tasks in the beginning, and once they gain your trust, start giving them the important responsibilities. This will also help you in gaining the confidence of your employees and motivating them to work better.
2. Establish a task hierarchy system
The very thing you need to do here is decide what tasks are to be assigned to your team. Once you have listed all the tasks, start dividing them as per your employee’s designations. Keep all the important tasks reserved for the people on the top and let the others per their skill sets. The hierarchy you make should be in accordance to the severity of the job. Also, schedule regular meetings to keep a check on the progress of the work.
3. Delegate according to your team member’s strengths
The next thing you need to do is divide the tasks based on the importance and skills required to accomplish them. You need to understand your employee’s strengths and weaknesses and their abilities to work on these tasks. You can also talk to them in one-on-one discussions to get a clear picture. In addition to this, keep monitoring and mentoring constantly for better results.
4. Teach Them How to Accomplish the tasks
Once you’ve chosen the employees and their assigned tasks, you must teach them on how to perform their duties. Give them clear instructions with every detail there is and, guide them through each step, and keep asking questions to see if they understand the task well. Share your expectations in a precise manner and ask for their viewpoints; this will help you save your time and effort and motivate your employees to work better.
5. Teach your team members new skills
While assigning the tasks, you will assess the skills and knowledge of your team. If you encounter a situation where they lack a certain skill, you must invest time in training them instead of rejecting them. Leaders must always make sure that their employees are given opportunities to upskill them. Invest in training programs that will benefit both you and your employees. You can delegate this task if you have an employee whose skills match your requirements. While they are being trained, keep a session reserved for you to understand the process and how its working; this will also help you know your team’s progress.
6. Balance trusting your employees with checking their work
Trust is the factor that will keep you connected to your employees. You must learn to trust your employees with important tasks, and you could do this by giving them smaller tasks to accomplish. Once they have proven themselves, it’s time for you to trust them to work on the important ones. Some work better independently, while others need to be supervised to keep them motivated.
7. Learn to offer effective feedback
Feedback is crucial for getting better at delegating. It helps employees know how they’re doing and how to get better. Besides giving praise and helpful advice, it’s good to let your team share their thoughts on how you delegate, give instructions, and check projects. Learning to give feedback and letting your employees do the same improves team communication and builds trust among team members.