Delegating

Delegating

Delegating means trusting someone else in your team with work and responsibilities. Why is it so important, and how can we do it better?

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjQ0MjM=

It might be tempting to think you can do everything faster and better than your team members. It might be hard to hand over tasks you enjoy doing. But attempting to do everything all by yourself shows poor leadership and can end in personal burnout. You end up overworked, stressed and unable to be the leader your team needs.

Leading a team brings new responsibilities and challenges, and managers need to learn to delegate as much as possible. That means sharing or transferring some of your responsibilities, and trusting other people to do some of the work that you normally do. Effective delegation gives you the time and space to offer the support needed, deal with the problems that arise and keep an eye on the bigger picture – things that a leader should be doing. 

As you consider what tasks to delegate, here are five tips on how you can delegate effectively.

1. Start with smaller tasks

If you're worried about handing over large projects, start by delegating the smaller tasks that don't require much overseeing. This will also give your team members time to get used to their new responsibilities.

2. Delegate tasks that will develop your team members

Delegation shouldn't just be about reducing your workload. It should also be about developing your team and giving them learning opportunities. Choose tasks that help their professional development, and allow them time to get better at doing them. By passing on work you are good at doing yourself and training your team members to do it, you're helping them grow professionally.

3. Delegate tasks to people who might like them 

A good team leader knows their team well and knows which tasks would suit which person best. Don't just delegate tasks you don't like doing. When people are doing tasks they enjoy, they're more motivated to do the best job they can do.

4. Trust your team

After handing over a task, some managers regularly look over their staff's shoulders and correct every action they see. This is called micromanagement – a style of management where a manager watches and controls what their team is doing too closely. Micromanaging takes almost as much time as doing the task yourself. It's also demotivating for your team, and discourages creativity and innovation. When we delegate, we need to be able to trust that things will get done, just not in the exact way we would do them.

5. Offer support

As a team leader, you need to set clear goals and expectations, communicate timelines and offer guidance where needed. Don't expect your team members to read your mind and understand your expectations when you haven't given them the necessary information. Check in regularly to make sure everything is on track.

It is not easy to delegate, and it takes practice to do it effectively. But it is by sharing responsibilities that we can become a valuable team player and a true leader.

Task 1

MultipleSelection_MjQ0MjQ=

Task 2

MultipleChoice_MjQ0MjU=

Discussion

Download
Worksheet87.6 KB

Language level

Average: 4.8 (5 votes)

Submitted by kenan.zero on Sun, 19/11/2023 - 16:19

Permalink

I think I can delegate some easy and small operational tasks. Something that is not critical to business success. For example, organizing meetings and creating meeting minutes. Some specific tasks related to team leadership shouldn't be delegated. For example, tasks like setting up team goals and key performance indicators. Also, things about rewards or bonuses, etc.

Submitted by FeliipeAndresA on Sun, 09/07/2023 - 06:06

Permalink

I agree with the first recommendation: to delegate small tasks at first.
And I support the idea that you shouldn't delegate tasks kind of..."shot caller" decisions.

Submitted by Thi Linh Do on Mon, 19/09/2022 - 08:20

Permalink

As team leaders, they should see the overall picture of their team about each staff’s ability, what they are willing to do and learn and what they do not like to do. From that, I think the team leader can start delegating smaller tasks to each team member and oversee the way they work and give the support needed. Then, the team leader can adjust task delegations when it’s needed to develop team performance. I also agree that the team leader should have a conversation with their team to encourage and let the team know what their goals are and what they want the team to improve so the team can go in the same direction.

Submitted by Nandar Su Hlaing on Fri, 09/09/2022 - 09:05

Permalink

What kinds of tasks do you think you should or shouldn't delegate?
The tasks should be delegated that the team members can do with their abilities or willing to learn how to perform responsibilities, motivate to do the tasks and need less supervision. We should not delegate the team members who are fresh graduate, or intern need to make vital decision for business.

Submitted by mariadanielale… on Mon, 02/08/2021 - 18:02

Permalink
As a leaderteam it is important to delegate most of the operatives tasks and focus on the big picture to ensure the best strategies for the company.