Total Guide to The Art of Delegation

Delegation within any business coming from top to bottom, as well as sideways, is paramount to the success of the business itself! To get the low-down on the art of this, we spoke to C&D Group’s MD, Karen Davison.

Division of workload allows Directors and Managers to spend valuable time on strategy, business planning and business critical issues. It often highlights those talented employees who are capable of more and would like to progress their careers.

Successful Managers possess good delegation skills, as taking advantage of employees, soaking up associated glory or poor assignment of tasks all result in negative results and loss of morale.

Getting the best from your team is a direct reflection of a Manager’s ability to delegate. Knowing what you are delegating, choosing the right person, communicating the overview and the detail in full is important.

Followed by checking understanding, gaining commitment listening to feedback, encouraging, establishing checkpoints and keeping in touch will all assist and smooth the process.

Finally, recognising and rewarding all efforts summarising how it went and potentially how it could be improved next time form the basis of the art of good delegation skills.

TOP TIPS FOR DELEGATION

1. GET THE ELEMENTS OF DELEGATION RIGHT…assign the tasks and duties appropriately, grant authority and create responsibility and accountability.
    
2. MASTER DELEGATION… whether vertically or horizontally, it must be accompanied by effective coaching and will not be effective unless you help your employees develop the skills they need to do the job.
    
3. DO DELEGATE…making day-to-day minor decisions, scheduling, answering routine questions, clerical duties and decisions able to be made in your absence.
    
4. DELEGATION IS NOT ABDICATION OR TASK ASSIGNMENT… do not ‘dump’ unpleasant tasks or assignments on your employees.
    
5. DO NOT DELEGATE…demoralising tasks, personnel issues, hiring, firing, emergency tasks, jobs that only you are qualified to do, such as personal reports for your superior.

The benefits of spreading the workload across a team for a Manager, reduces stress and allows focus on the most important aspects of the Manager’s role.

Demonstrating good leadership builds trust and rapport with your employees as well grooming your successor in a performance related manner. Often Managers prevent their own advancement by not having someone to fill their shoes at the right time, therefore delegation once again is a winner all round.

It is truly important for team members to be given more responsibility and their own projects to work on as it provides them with professional growth opportunities, whilst developing their knowledge and skills. This elevates self- image, enhances confidence and self worth bringing about a sense of personal satisfaction and achievement. Being involved in decision-making leads to more commitment and increased morale, which is turn benefits everyone throughout the organisation.

In summary, delegation executed properly promotes cost savings, encourages teamwork, enhances professionalism, and increases both productivity and efficiency.