Tips for Effective Delegation Skills

Are you one of those business owners that feels they need to do everything and no one can do it as good as you can? 

Do you have effective delegation skills but not actually delegating but holding on to everything afraid to let go?

So, why aren’t you delegating?

One of the most vital and key skills every business owner should possess is effective delegation skills. 

No one can possibly handle all the work that needs to be done in a business and having a good team that you trust surrounding you is key. Using effective delegation skills can help YOU focus on building your business while those you delegate to can focus on running the day-to-day operations. 

Effective delegation will increase your effectiveness, allow you more time and energy to focus on the important things, less pressure to do “everything”, create a support system of people who are working together for a common goal, and all of those tasks on your list will finally get done resulting in you achieving your goals in less time. 

You create a win-win situation for you, your employee’s and your clients.

So, what does it mean to have effective delegation skills?

1. Make a list of the tasks you do now -  Think about the tasks that you do. Can any of them be automated or eliminated? This can significantly increase productivity time and narrow down what really needs to be done by you or your employees.

2. Let go -  Take a look at some of the areas you are controlling and see how you can change. Are there areas that you tend to take over in your business and let your personal agenda get in the way? Think about what it would take for you to let go of being in control of those areas.

3. What are you good at? -  Make sure you keep the tasks that you are good at. Effective delegation is about letting go of the tasks that are bogging you down and delegating an outcome rather than dumping a problem on someone else. It is important for you to continue handling the tasks that call on your brilliance. 

4. Start small - Start by delegating small tasks first so you can easily track them. As your comfort level increases, you will be able to delegate larger, more complicated items. Make sure you are still available to answer questions they may have along the way. As you get more comfortable with the decision making of the person you entrusted with a task or project, it will be easier to let people “run” with projects and ideas.

5. Hiring the right people and training them well and delegating wisely will allow your business to flourish. Practicing effective delegation skills will challenge you in the areas of communication, listening, planning, decision-making and problem solving. 

6. Try not to micromanage. Give plenty of information and what your expectations are, as well as deadlines to complete the items or projects. Not everyone thinks the same or tackles a project the same way, so making your expectations clear and answering any questions they may have will decrease issues you would otherwise have down the road. 

7. Don’t forget the importance of feedback and recognition of a job well done. Letting people know they have met or exceeded your expectations will increase a person’s morale and make them feel good about being part of your team.

Effective delegation will definitely make your life easier and will also help those you delegate to. It offers them a chance to learn the business and create a sense of responsibility, achievement, enjoyment and fun of sharing a process, can increase your income and offer more opportunities for people to grow, learn and contribute to your business. 

Have you had an experience as an employer or employee that demonstrates effective delegation?