3 Secrets of Successful Delegation
Have you discovered the joys of delegating?
Delegation is one of the most important tools in the management of time but for many it is much easier said than done.
Whether you don’t delegate because you cannot bear to trust anyone else with an important task or because you hate asking for help, you need to change. Not only are you dooming yourself to reduced productivity, if you have staff you’re potentially preventing them from reaching their potential.
Stop doubting yourself and your colleagues and start delegating successfully. Once you master it, you will never look back.
When delegating whether to a team member, contractor or anyone else, your most important tool is communication. Clarity is key, in more ways than one. By conveying a clear message, clear instructions and clear responsibility for the task, you will greatly increase the chances of the task being completed correctly the first time.
Remember, the onus is on you to communicate clearly, not on the recipient to interpret vague instructions accurately.
- Set a clear objective – What exactly needs to be done? Make sure to give enough information when handing the task over
- tell them what information you want
- how long you want the report or document to be
- explain when you need
- what format you need it in
Everything must be communicated at this point. Of course, this means you will need to thoroughly analyse and identify your requirements before you even think of actually delegating.
- Set a deadline – Vague requests are no good to anyone. If you need a task to be completed by 3pm tomorrow, make that known. It’s not about being overbearing or bossy, it’s about keeping everyone involved properly informed.
- Allow enough time – In addition to setting a clear deadline, it is important to give your colleague enough time to complete the task to a high standard. Delegation doesn’t mean sending panicked emails when you’ve realised you don’t have time to complete that report that needs to be presented in 30 minutes!
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If you would like more information on delegating dedicated to your needs, or any other aspect of time management and productivity, why not book an individual session with Andrea? She has limited availability over the coming weeks so get in touch today to grab your opportunity.
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