When we delegate tasks we get things done. But when we delegate responsibility, others get done much more than we ever could. This awesome quote comes from author and speaker Simon Sinek, one of my favourites. This is all about challenging and growing your people to be the best they can be.
I blogged a while ago about how Richard Branson considers delegation as one of his best skills and probably the biggest key to his amazing success. It is also what most of the up and coming generation of workers want from their bosses – a chance to learn and grow.
Back to Simon’s quote, we always believe we can do the task better than anyone else. What are the two main reasons we don’t delegate?
- It will take too long to train someone, it’s just quicker to do it myself
- They won’t do it the way I want it done
And managers I talk to come up with lots more reasons why they can’t delegate. If we stick to these beliefs, good luck working on your business, you’ll be too busy working in it!!!
There are heaps of great reasons to delegate that back up Simon Sinek’s statement, here are a few that I can think of:
- You find out who can step up
- They might have a much better way of doing the task with fresh ideas
- Your team learn a whole bunch of new skills
- Things happen when you are not there – often it’s better without you – a frightening thought!!
- With new skills they may be better placed to leave, but if they enjoy the challenges you provide they are more likely to stay.
So we know why we should, and if we get over the excuses, how do you successfully delegate? Make a conscious decision to delegate a particular task – don’t do it on the fly, think it through and plan the process by following these steps:
- Identify the best person to delegate the task to – the task might need someone to think creatively (organising a promotional stand), so choose your most creative staff member and match the task to their personality. Think about who is available and has time to do the task (works enough shifts).
- Cleary identify your expectations – this is where most delegation falls down. Communicate what is required, identify the specific steps, resources they may need etc. Ensure you have been clear by getting the staff member to repeat the steps to you. You may want to wait around while they start the task to see if they are on track. Let them know how long the task should take and that you will come back to check how they are going.
- Follow up – get them to come and tell you when they have finished so you can check. If the task has been done correctly, provide positive feedback. If not identify what needs to be fixed and have them do it – don’t do it for them as they will never learn.
I hope the 3 steps helps you in the ongoing process of delegation. Once you become a master delegator you can focus on growing your business and reaping the rewards.
Roger Simpson – CEO, The Retail Solution and Author of “The Retail Solution” With over 35 years’ industry experience, Roger Simpson is recognized as Australia’s #1 Authority on customer ROI in the retail industry and as a global expert on staff coaching, customer service and selling skills.
