No leader can do it all. If they could, then they wouldn’t need a team of skilled professionals to help them manage the workload.
But, if you have trouble delegating, you may be leaving more on your plate than you should. This can lead you to be overtasked, hurting your ability to get your responsibilities handled.
Delegation is a powerful part of the leadership toolbox. Without it, you may have trouble meeting deadlines and keeping your responsibilities covered.
Whether your goal is streamlining operations, creating time for making better hires, or simply divvying out workloads more evenly, here are three ways to improve delegation so you can get more done.
Begin with Small Tasks
At times, it’s hard for managers to let go of the “individual contributor” identity, particularly for those who are new to a leadership role. If the idea of handing responsibilities to your team is challenging for you, starting small can make it feel more manageable.
Select duties that only come with a low level of responsibility, including those where how they are accomplished isn’t particularly relevant as long as the end result meets a specific standard. You can also choose tasks that have a reduced level of impact on overall operations and profitability should things go awry, allowing you to decrease your workload without having to worry about large repercussions.
Both of those approaches can help you learn to trust your team. Then, with a bit of time, the idea of delegating more substantial responsibilities won’t be as intimidating.
Assign Tasks to Tiers
Separating duties into three functional tiers based on difficulty can make determining which tasks you should delegate to members of your team easier. Activities that don’t require a substantial amount of skill can go to your less-experienced staff members while those that need a moderate amount of experience can go to your more senior staff.
When it comes to your highest-skilled duties, consider keeping those on your own plate or putting them in the hands of employees you trust to excel. That way, your most critical tasks are handled by your best and brightest at all times.
Embrace Feedback
After you delegate a task, it’s best to walk away and let your workers manage the duties. However, also make it clear in advance that they can reach out to you if the need arises. This can provide a substantial amount of peace of mind to you and your team, as you both know, should they encounter an obstacle, they can turn to you.
Additionally, once a task is complete, review the results with your employee. Provide feedback that can help them improve (if needed) or congratulate them on a job well done if everything went well. Then, ask them for input regarding their experience, including whether they found the assignment overly challenging or if it fell in their wheelhouse.
The feedback process allows you to gauge whether they are the ideal worker for specific tasks while providing guidance that can assist them in meeting your expectations in the future.
By following the tips above, you can learn to delegate more effectively, making it easier to get more done in less time. If you would like to know more, the professionals at Vector Technical Inc. can help. Contact us to discuss your needs today and see how our expertise can benefit you.
