If you own a business, you have already heard about the benefits of delegation. It is a great way to save time and money – but despite this, some business owners really dislike delegating tasks.
This could be for different reasons; maybe they do not want to pay someone else to do the work, or maybe they think they can produce a better result than anyone else. And sure, this could be true sometimes – but if they never delegate work, they will likely become overworked and stressed (and therefore more likely to make mistakes).
Do you want to improve your delegation skills? If so, here are five tips to help you.
Decide Which Tasks To Delegate
If you have never delegated work before and you are not sure where to start, try starting by delegating a small project to an employee you trust. Avoid assigning time-sensitive, essential projects to start with, as this leaves room for mistakes and problems. A small project is enough for you to get comfortable with delegation, and it will also give you the chance to assess if your employees are ready to take on new projects.
Set Up Clear Communication Systems
It is essential to set up a transparent communication system so that employees can contact you about their new project. Communication is a crucial element of any successful business, so it is essential to make it clear to all your employees that they can speak to you if they have any questions or concerns. You could use email for this, or you could use a video chat app to schedule daily check-ins.
Choose the Right Employees
When it comes to delegation, you should take some time to think about which employees are best suited to specific projects. Different people on your team likely have different skills; maybe one person is great at illustration, while someone else is great at communication. Consider which employee is best suited to each task, and then delegate accordingly. It is also important to consider what your employees enjoy, if a task that they do not like is delegated to them, then they are not likely to complete their best work. Cultivate their passion in a productive way for your business.
It is also possible to measure the employee’s individual success with Performance Management Software, so you will become even more effective at delegating tasks in the future.
Don’t Micromanage
After delegating work, you may be tempted to hover around to see if the employee does the work well – but do not recommend doing this. Various studies have found that employees hate being micromanaged, as it makes them question their skills and competence. So give your employees the chance to succeed alone, and let them use the clear communication channel to contact you if they have any issues.
Give Praise
Finally, it is important to give praise to employees who do their work well. This will make them feel valued for their work, so they will be more willing to take on future tasks if you ask. So take some time to praise employees whenever they complete a task you delegated to them, and you should have a happy, motivated, productive team!
