- What are you currently doing that your staff could or should be doing?
- What could you delegate that would really help to develop a team member?
- Think about the value and importance to both parties?
The steps for successful delegation
If you follow these 4 steps and make sure you have covered the SMART points you should be successful with your delegation.
Step 1 – Identify items that you could or should delegate
Step 2 – Ensure both parties have a common understanding of what is required
- What is the timescale? Does it have an end date or is it something on-going?
- How will you/they know if they carry out the assignment successfully? What is the desired end result?
- What level of authority will they have/won’t they have?
- Is a prescribed method really necessary or will you allow freedom to do it their way? Do they know what to do?
- When will they discuss their plan of action with you?
- What help is needed with workload management and /or training to accommodate the new activity?
Step 3 – Agree their action plan
- For bigger tasks, get your staff to draw up an action plan for how they are going to do it
- Encourage and praise what has been done. Ask them questions to get them to fill any gaps you see in their plan – ownership is theirs, so it is better if it is their idea.
Step 4 – Monitor and give feedback
- Make sure you monitor how they are doing. If at all possible include the monitoring process as part of the end result that you want i.e. make them come to you for checking rather than you having to chase things up.
- Explain when and how they can get help.
- Give them helpful feedback and encouragement.