How to Delegate Tasks Properly

And, remember that there is no such thing as a single-handed success: When you include and acknowledge all those in your corner, you propel yourself, your teammates and your supporters to greater heights.– Author Unknown

Delegating is an art form. You will need skills to be able to delegate the right tasks to the right people. Once you have mastered this skill, you will reap wonderful rewards from having more free time and less stress in your life.

There is a right and wrong way to delegate tasks. You will need diplomacy as well as the ability to select which member of your team can handle which job. Here are tips that will get you to become a delegating expert:

Communicate as clearly as possible.

When requesting someone to do a certain task, be as detailed as possible. Tell your employee what your expectations are and give specific deadlines. Don't leave room for errors because of communication problems. Tell the other person what you want done, how you want it done and when you need it done. Be sure to specify the areas where she can use her own decision-making skills and where she should get your approval.

Be sure to tell her your doors are open for any clarifications. If you make yourself approachable, your employee is less likely to make mistakes because she will feel comfortable enough to come back to you with questions when necessary.

Make following up a habit.

Following up with your team will require some of your time but this is time well spent. It's better to correct errors along the way while there is ample time to fix them than to find out at the end that you and your employee were both on the wrong page all along. 

Aim for at least a minimum of one follow-up meeting every week. The meetings don't have to be long; 10 minutes using the right follow-up questions will give you a good picture of where the project stands. Don't make your employee feel you are monitoring her because you don't trust her. Be positive and motivating by telling her you are following up just to make sure she has all the information she needs to do her job. Be sure to mention how you are always open to receive her questions.

Hire people who can handle responsibilities well.

As much as delegating work is a skill for an employer, the ability to take on work and follow instructions is a skill for the employee. When screening job applicants, select people who think quickly on their feet and who are independent. Focus on applicants who are team-players as well and those who are not afraid to speak up and ask questions.

Remember, the success of your business does not rely solely on your own skills. Utilizing the skills of other people will help grow your business faster than had you done everything yourself.