Essential Stress Management Skills: Effective Delegation.

by John Townsend ~ January 13th, 2009. Tags: delegation, LinkedIn Filed under: Stress Management.

Reay Mackay

Many thanks to Reay Mackay of the V-M Group in Brisbane for writing this article on Effective Delegation.

Delegation is probably one of the most poorly practised skills of supervision and management yet if utilised properly can be an extremely effective tool.

It’s not an easy skill to develop. It takes time and patience.

A manager who learns to delegate effectively achieves two goals at the same time:

First, more time is available to plan, organise and maintain relationships with other employees and co-workers.

Second, employees become more versatile and valuable as they learn new tasks.

Below are 10 points that need to be considered in the delegating process.

As you check the list, assume you have been working extra hours and need to turn over tasks you have been doing to some of your staff;

1. Analyse your tasks and identify one you feel will provide you with additional freedom as well as benefiting the employee to whom you assign the responsibility;

2. Select the most logical individual for the task you identify and delegate it. Be careful not to overload one employee;

3. Instruct the individual selected how to perform the task if this is the first time. Do this in detail by both explaining and demonstrating. Explain why the task is important to the total operation;

4. Solicit feedback to ensure the employee is prepared to assume the new responsibility. Provide opportunities for the employee to ask questions;

5. Allow the employee you selected the freedom to practice the new assignment for a few days. Over-supervision can kill motivation;

6. Follow up in a positive manner. When deserved, compliment the employee. If improvements are required go through the instructional process a second time;

7. Consider the rotation of tasks. Done properly, employees learn more and boredom is less likely. Also, an objective productivity comparison is possible among employees;

8. Delegate those assignments that prepare employees to take over in the absence of others - including yourself;

9. Give everyone an opportunity to contribute. Solicit employee ideas. Utilise their special talents and abilities;

10. Discuss new assignments and rotation plans with the entire group to obtain feedback and generate enthusiasm.