Effective Delegation

1)      Choose the right person or persons for the task.

a.       Before delegating the task, ask yourself:

Who would be challenged?

Who would learn the most?

Who should NOT do it?

Who has the necessary skills?

Does the task require previous experience?

Would it be useful to have someone acquire this experience to give the team greater depth?

What particular personal qualities are needed and who has them?

Is more than one person needed?  If yes, how will they work together?

2)      Give clear instructions.  Clearly define the task.  Make sure you stipulate deadlines and explain the desired outcome.  Check that the people involved understand what is required.

3)      Monitor progress.  Be alert for signs that things are going wrong.  Encourage frequent, informal discussions about how the task is progressing.  Be ready with help, advice and encouragement, but avoid doing the task yourself.

4)      Retain final responsibility.  As a leader, you should delegate authority, but not final responsibility.  If the task was successful, give recognition and credit to the people involved.

If the task was less than successful, ask yourself:

Was it because of a misunderstanding between myself and the other people involved?

            Was the wrong person selected?

            Were there unforeseen problems?

            Were the mistakes preventable?

            What would I do differently next time?