If you are good at your job most likely you pride yourself on being capable and competent in what you do, and most likely you like to do things on your own, to make sure that things get done correctly. But that is old school leadership. The new school of leadership is, if you want the job done right, you have to learn how to delegate it properly so that it can be done to the proper standard. Here are ways successful ways to delegate to get the job done effectively.
Pick the right person: The first thing to do when you want to delegate a task is to match the right person to the right job. One of the biggest time wasters in business is delegating to the wrong person. Often a task is delegated to a person who isn’t capable of getting the job done right. Be sure that the person you delegate the task to is capable of doing the job.
Create requirements for agreements: Once you have selected the right person for the job, take the time discuss the requirements of task to make sure, that you and the person agree on what will get done. The more time you take to discuss and agree upon the end result or objective, and achieve absolute clarity, the more efficient the person can be.
Specify preferences: if you like a job to be done a certain way, make sure to explain how you want the job to be done. it cuts down on confusion and it creates clarity of expectations.
Create clear outcomes: Make the delegation task measurable. Explain what is to be done, how you think it should be done, and the reasons for doing this job in the first place, because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
Forward feedback: Ask the person to actively feed back to you the instructions you have given them and have agreements on how to move forward. This is the only way that you can be sure that the other person actually understands what the expectations are and what requirements entail for the delegated to accomplished.
Invite questions: Make yourself available for the person being delegated to ask as many questions as they need to. Invite questions and be open to suggestions, tell people to come back to you only if they have a problem. There is a direct relationship between how much people are invited to talk about the job and how much they understand it, accept it, and become committed to it. You need to delegate in such a way that people walk away feeling, I can do this job and I can do it well.
Manage time: Set a deadline and a schedule for completion of the task. At the same time, arrange for regular reporting and for periodic inspection. Invite feedback and questions if there are any delays or problems that may occur and most likely will happen.
Assign ownership: allow the person that you have delegated to take responsibility for the task or job to be done. this leads to confidence and competence. Let them take one hundred percent responsibility this can be a major performance motivator. The more often you assign responsibilities to the right people, the more competent they will become.
Lead from within: As a leader, the more you delegate effectively, the greater the time you will have to do the things that only you can do.
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The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
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Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.