Simple Steps To Delegate The Smart Way!
Leadership is a 24/7 hustle. 🚀 Endless to-do lists, those long weekdays bleeding into weekends... 🗓️ It can be exhausting! 😩 Trying to do it all leads to one thing: burnout. 🔥 There's a smarter way: delegation! But handing over control can be terrifying… "What if they mess it up? What if it's not done my way?" 😱 Here's the truth: Delegating shows trust in your team and allows them to grow, while freeing up your time to focus on the bigger picture and strategic tasks!So here’s how to delegate the smart way for results (and a happier, more productive team)! 💪 1. Start with the right tasks 🔍Don't just delegate anything and everything. Prioritise tasks that are routine or recurring and that don‘t require your core expertise. Look for some that are important but not so critical that a mistake would be catastrophic: reporting, project updates, or initial client outreach are often a good way to start... 🛠️ Tools like the Eisenhower matrix can help you identify those tasks - start with the ones that build skills, but have less time pressure: |
2. Play to the strengths of your team 💪Delegating isn't just a matter of assigning tasks to anyone available. Find team members who have the skills, time, and motivation to handle the task at hand. But remember: delegating should be a learning opportunity for your team, so don't always go for the most experienced employee. For example:
🛠️ You can use the Skill Will matrix to identify the right team members to delegate to, per task: |
3. Set clear expectations 🎯Don't just dump tasks... Explain how the work contributes to the bigger picture. Be clear on the desired outcome, relevant deadlines, available resources, and your success criteria. As well, specify what decisions they can make independently, and when to consult you. 🛠️ You can use a simplified RACI matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to ensure everyone is on the same page about who owns what for each step of the task. This can prevent miscommunication and bottlenecks later! |
4. Give your team the authority 🤝Things might be done differently than you would do them. And that's okay! Focus on results, not replicating your exact methods. Once you delegate a task, let them OWN it. Trust your team to make the right decisions and mistakes along the way. Remember, mistakes are opportunities to learn and improve! So create regular check-ins but resist the urge to jump in and "fix" things unless absolutely necessary. 🛠️ For project transparency, use tools like Trello, Asana, or Monday. You can easily see progress without micromanaging. 5. Offer feedback, support and appreciation ♻️Don't disappear once the task is handed off. Ask: What went well? Where can we improve next time? This builds trust and shows you're invested in their growth. If they did a good job, highlight what they did well! This keeps them motivated and reinforces positive behaviours. And if they didn’t, treat it as a learning opportunity, not a failure! 🛠️ After a project, have a debrief/retrospective, capture what worked well and what didn't in a “Lesson Learned” doc, making future delegation smoother. 6. The mindset shift 🏆Lose the "only I can do it right" mentality. Yes, you're good at what you do... That's why you're the CEO/Manager/Leader… But perfectionism is the enemy of growth. And delegation is about developing your team, not just offloading work. So aim for "good enough" at first, not some unattainable standard. And give space for trial and error, learning, unlearning and failures. 🛠️ You can play Delegation Poker to ease into that mindset. Start by reflecting on which level of delegation you want to start with, and then gradually "raise the stakes" as you build trust in your team: |
Remember, delegation is not a one-time event, it's an ongoing process. But true growth - for you and for your team - can only happen when you let go of control and trust in the capabilities of your team. So keep practicing and refining your delegation skills - and remember: their success is your success too! 🏆 Actions for today:
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