Have you ever wondered why it is, that even with the most careful planning and organization, certain projects fail to achieve the results you envisioned? Ask yourself this question, “Did I derail my own plans because I was not willing to delegate?"
Some Perspective
We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you want something done right, you
have to do it yourself.” From my point of view, nothing could be further
from the truth.
As a veteran of three different corporations and the U.S. Army, I often
think about the lessons I’ve learned over the years. What I know for
sure is that learning to delegate effectively will make you a more effective
leader. Yes, planning and organization can help, but if you aren’t delegating,
chances are you will constantly battle the problem of keeping up with
everything that has to be done, which leads to productivity issues.
These days, leaders are charged with many challenges, including the
maximization of resources. Those who are in a position of responsibility
must constantly be in the mode of developing talent. And, one of the
best ways to do that is by delegating tasks.
Delegating accomplishes two things. One, it expresses your confidence
in your team members. And two, delegation motivates team members to
step outside of their box and go beyond the previously defined limits
of their potential.
I’ve also worked with team leaders who had other preconceptions, which
always seemed to hold them back from delegation: “Some people are basically
lazy, interested only in their paycheck and fringe benefits.” Or, “If
I grant team members additional responsibility my authority will be
challenged.” Does that sound familiar?
These preconceptions are often the reason team leaders hesitate to
assign tasks to their team members, resulting in a lack of productivity,
low motivation among the team, and in general, real problems in the
workplace.
What’s holding back the team leaders in your organization? In my experience
one of the main reasons team leaders hold back is that they do not have
confidence that they know “how to” delegate effectively, and that the
assignment will be done well, and the belief that they have done so
in a manner that demonstrates real leadership.
Many team leaders can benefit by a deeper understanding of the skills
that those who delegate effectively use and put into practice every
day.
A Solution
Our experience in working with hundreds of organizations has proven
that management skill levels, like the ability to successfully delegate
work, have a direct impact on business results:
• Increased productivity
• Maximized resources
• Developed talent
• Motivated employees
Our formula for boosting skill levels, which can also be found in our
4-hour “Delegating” workshop, is for leaders to do the following:
• Explain the need for delegation. Help people understand the "why"
and the "what" behind the task.
• Use delegation of a task to motivate.
• Explain and ask for the team member's view on how to accomplish the
task.
• Specify responsibility and authority. Make sure that you both agree
upon a target completion date. Set milestones along the way for complex
tasks.
• Confirm team member's understanding and set up time for review.
• Provide feedback when the task is complete, so that your team member
can grow professionally and take on more responsibility on future tasks.
About 5.12 Solutions
5.12 Solutions (five-twelve) is the corporate training and professional development company that inspires people to make timely and meaningful change. With a uniquely fresh approach to adult learning, 5.12 Solutions helps people develop the soft skills they need to be successful through instructor-led training, team building workshops, online learning, and public seminars.
Visit www.512solutions.com or call 303.579.5829
for more information