Delegation, often misunderstood, is more than just assigning tasks. It's an art form, requiring finesse and understanding, not a mere scientific method. Let's delve into the intricacies of effective delegation, exploring its nuances and potential for leadership enhancement.
Delegation sometimes feels like it will require more time, energy, and focus than just doing the project yourself
Delegating important work isn’t as simple as assigning someone a ticket, or putting their name down for the “responsible party” on a RACI matrix.
- To delegate effectively, you’ll need to prep in a way that’s tailored to the project, context, and individual.
Project Goal
Describe in one sentence the outcome you want to see for this project.
- Don’t describe your idea for a solution, or a step-by-step process of the “how.” It’s important that the person you’re delegating to determines their own process.
You should reach out to me when…
Be specific about your preferred medium and what the trigger might be for them to reach out. This will give them explicit permission to come to you when they need help or feel stuck.
- It will also create some boundaries, encouraging this teammate to work some things out on their own.
Pro tips
Set your teammate up for success with some pro tips and lessons learned to help them avoid pitfalls
- Give your teammate a maximum of three pro tips when you hand them the project
- Don’t overwhelm them with information or give them the “how” of the tips too many times.
This will be a success when…
Create a success metric that is time-boxed and able to be measured by your teammate
- This will help your teammate know what you are looking for to determine that the project is complete
- Expect this to be a stretch for them, but trust that they will succeed
Clarity and support for your teammate
Delegate tasks to create a safety net
- This up front investment will translate to a stronger leader who can take on bigger, even more important projects going forward
- You’re building a new bench of leaders by delegating projects
I will support you by…
2-5 actions you’ll take to support this teammate while they’re working on this big project
- Each type of support should begin with a verb, like “Reading and giving you feedback on early drafts in Google Docs.”
- Include bullets about what work you are not going to do
