How to Practice Effective Delegation

Delegating is the downward transfer of authority from supervisor to subordinate. It involves trusting other employees to carry out part of a supervisor's responsibilities. If you see yourself consistently spending too much time completing tasks that could be efficiently performed by another employee, free up some of your time by delegating these tasks to an able and willing employee.

Instructions

1. Ask yourself if you are the right person to complete the task in question. If the task is easily and efficiently completed by someone else on your staff, decide what work needs to be delegated.

2. Consult with your staff to determine what they want to do along with what needs to be done.

3. Choose the best person to complete each task. Share the challenging tasks with others. The delegation needs to result in employee growth and an increase in employee confidence. It must also increase management's productivity.

4. Allow your staff the freedom to build up their skills by designing their own process to achieve the objective. Explain the nature of the work you need completed and ensure that they understand its importance in the "big picture."

5. Create a feedback loop. Ask the person to repeat your instructions back to you. Make certain that employees feel comfortable coming to you with any questions they might have.

6. Be clear about the scope of authority. Monitor the employee's progress and give feedback in a timely manner.

7. Set a realistic, negotiated deadline with the employee. Add checkpoints along the way for you both to make sure the task is on track.

8. Maintain a delegation log. This assists you in performance appraisals when the time for evaluations comes along.

9. Show appreciation for a job done well. Give promotions, monetary incentives and verbal recognition when appropriate.