Maybe you’re thinking, “Delegation? That’s for people with big teams or fancy titles. I can handle this myself!” Let’s challenge that thought for a moment. Whether you’re running a small organization or leading a large corporation, delegation isn’t just important—it’s a game changer. In fact, the smaller your team, the more critical delegation becomes to maximize efficiency and growth.
Delegation transforms a “do-it-all” leader into an empowering one. It’s not about avoiding responsibility but about sharing it in a way that benefits everyone. In fact in doing things all yourself, or finishing off tasks that you previously delegated, takes learning opportunities away from your team! Who wants to be a diminishing leader? No thanks!
Why Is Delegation Important?
- Reduced Workload: Say goodbye to burnout and hello to working smarter, not harder.
- Improved Retention: Delegation gives your team learning opportunities and chances to show their superpowers. This shows you trust them and can help people to stay longer.
- Time Mastery: With fewer tasks on your plate, you can focus on higher value work. On average we spend 8 hours a week on things we could delegate. How much faster would your business grow if you spent those 8 hours on strategy?
Delegation also benefits your team – it allows team members to step up, tackle new projects they are passionate about, and allow you to help their career development.
Mastering the Art of Delegation
So, are you ready to sprinkle some of that “delegation gold dust” over your business? Here’s how:
- Prepare
- The aim of delegation is to set them up for success, not to delegate something as quick as possible. Ensure you are very clear on what you are delegating, what you want the end result to look like, and whether you are delegating a process, or just one task.
- Define
- Give them background, tell them clearly what this task done ‘successfully’ looks like (including showing them examples), and approximately how long you are expecting the task to take.
- Deadlines
- Give them a firm deadline and explain why it’s important.
- Clarify Authority
- Be explicit about the authority they have and don’t. Do they have authority to talk to the customer? Spend money?
- Checkpoints
- Schedule 1-3 progress updates to ensure you know things are on track.
- Repeat Back
- At the end of the conversation allocate 5-10 mins and ask, “What’s your understanding of what I’ve asked?” This ensures clarity and alignment.
Pro Tips for More Effective Delegation
- Start Small: Start with less critical tasks to build confidence.
- Match Skills to Tasks: Assign tasks that leverage team members’ strengths.
- Encourage Ownership: Empower your team to take responsibility and find solutions independently. Never take a delegated task back!
- Record the session: If you are delegating over video record it and send it as a reference in case they have questions.
The Long-Term Payoff
The next time you’re tempted to shoulder everything yourself, remember delegation isn’t just about freeing your time—it’s about empowering your team and setting your business up for long-term success.
And ask yourself…”If you don’t delegate this task, what learning opportunity are you taking away from your team?”
It’s time to embrace the power of delegation and watch your business soar!
Glenda Lewis is a Leadership CFO – a financial geek who specialises in driving performance and financial management through people and finances. To find out more book a discovery call with Glenda –https://calendly.com/glendalewis/30min
