So many leaders agree, the key to doing great things in business is to learn how to delegate.
But delegation isn’t simply a matter of passing on work to team members. There are many other lessons to learn before knowing how to delegate the right way.
Here are some of them, in the words of those who know better:
“Focus on what you are good at; delegate all else. Jobs doesn’t direct animated movies or woo Wall Street. He concentrates on what he’s good at.” Leander Kahney, author of Inside Steve’s Brain
Before delegating anything, you have to know which tasks to delegate. The easy rule here is, do what you are good at. There may be tasks out there that you can do better than other people can, but you can’t do everything. That’s something we all struggle with at times.
But as a leader, you need to maximize the abilities and more importantly, the time, of each your entire team. Sometimes, that means letting go of some tasks yourself so you can focus on the more important things or the things you are the best at.
“Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine.” David Ogilvy, founder of Ogilvy & Mather
After figuring out what to delegate, it’s time to make the decision of whom to delegate to. This is just as important as the first part. Luckily, if you have done your job right, you’ve surrounded yourself with people who are not only capable and competent, they might also be better than you are, at least in some specific aspects.
If you have good people around you, delegation will not only ease the burden on you, the leader, but it could also ensure that the job is accomplished in the best way possible, by the right people. It could also mean that the team members can grow and develop with the new responsibilities, which would lead to long-term benefits for your company.
“Are we limiting our success by not mastering the art of delegation? It’s simply a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” Oprah Winfrey, chairwoman and CEO, Oprah Winfrey Network
Here’s another thing worth remembering about delegation, it’s not just simply assigning tasks. It takes preparation. As a leader, you need to be able to communicate properly what needs to be done. That means spending time ahead of the project meeting and coordinating and, if necessary, training your team members.
After that, though, let them be free to accomplish the tasks without micro-managing them. That means, sometimes, letting them do it their own way. In the end, you might end up with a better finished product that if you had done it yourself.
“If you want to do a few small things right, do them yourself. If you want to do great things and make a big impact, learn to delegate.” John C. Maxwell, author
And that’s really the final word on delegation.
Leaders will want to do everything, because they are used to doing everything. It can be a matter of pride or it can be what seems to be what’s best for the company. But if you try to do everything, then you’re not putting your full attention into some things, and those things can be important.
So don’t sweat the small stuff, trust your team members, and let go. That opens up your time to focus on the things that can make your company truly great – and that’s something that’s definitely worth your time.
Contact TukkoLabs for a consultation on services that can be offered to help your business grow through delegation.
SOURCES:
“Delegation Quotes.” Goodreads, recovered 23 November 2018, Web.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/delegation
“29 Quotes To Help You Delegate #LikeABoss.” Resourceful Manager, recovered 23 November 2018, Web.
https://www.resourcefulmanager.com/delegating-quotes/