Tips to Delegating
An excerpt from Get Where You Want to Go
- 1. Determine what you will delegate. You decide which task(s) you want to delegate. Keep in mind that delegating is different from simply assigning someone a task that is already a part of the normal job requirements. When you delegate, you give someone else one of your job tasks; but you maintain control and responsibility.
- 2. Clarify the results you want. Determine the results you consider necessary for successful completion of the task. In general, the employee to whom you delegate uses his or her own methods to accomplish the task. If you expect use of a specific method to accomplish results, relate that to the employee at the beginning.
- 3. Clearly define the employee’s responsibility. You, not the employee, determine the level of responsibility. Be sure the employee understands that level. After you have given the employee the information about the delegated task, ask him or her to tell you his understanding of both the task and goals. If the employee’s answers do not match your expectations, review the matter in detail again.