Delegation: The Secret To Gaining More Time!

When you talk about delegation do you wince or cringe at the thought? I use to be like that too! I hated to delegate anything because I thought if I didn't do it, it would not be done. Or at least it wouldn't be done right! I was killing myself trying to take on all of the roles in my work life and personal life. It was getting to the point where I started to resent everyone who was asking me for help and to do things. It wasn't their fault, it was mine! I was the one who couldn't say NO.

That is when I started to really look into how I could use this technique and the benefit it would bring to all. I didn't learn this skill until I was in college. And only because I had to. In college I learned how dividing up tasks lifted off the burden of doing everything myself and freed me up to do other things more important. I also learned to trust my team members and help them to build their skills also.

Benefits of Delegating

• Frees you up to do more important tasks.
• Helps build employee skills.
• Allows you to evaluate your staff.
• Builds trust among the company.
• Helps you to plan more effectively because you aren't trying to do everything yourself with no time.

How to Delegate

• Clearly communicate what you want done.
• Encourage everyone to get involved.
• Don't scrutinize the method used to get to the desired result. Everyone has their own way of doing things.
• Trust the person you have given the task to.
• Give credit where credit is due.
• Know who you are handing tasks to. The last thing you need is surprises.
• Don't just hand out every task you have to do. Be selective and mindful of what gets delegated.
• Specify who is in charge

Think about what can be eliminated before you hand out a task to someone. Delegate things you like to do. It will help build the skills of the person who is receiving the task. Don't give tasks to the most capable person. Try delegating to someone that can use the experience.

And finally, when you delegate a task don't disappear altogether. Some input from you will be needed. If you want great results you need to keep a eye on what is going on and give clear instructions and be available for more clarification if it is needed.

Delegating is a lifestyle and a skill. A skill that can be learned and a lifestyle that will leave you with more time on your hands. Enjoy!

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