Delegating Effectively

MSAE's Young Professionals Networking Group had a lively discussion about Delegating Effectively and why it's an important skill to learn.

Delegating is a skill that takes practice, communication and follow through.  

Here are the top takeaways:

1. Are you delegating or dumping?  If you are delegating that means you are still held responsible for the task to be completed.
2. Delegating is important as it shows your ability to manage people, tasks and using your resources.  It gives practical and professional benefits.

What hinders someone to delegate?

1. Lack of staff/volunteers to delegate to
2. Time
3. Trust
4. Training
5. Work Styles
6. Fear of Letting Go, Control
7. Lack of follow up, checking in or follow through
8. Lack of authority to delegate

Tasks that are good to delegate are those that are reoccurring.  If a task is never going to be repeated, consider if it should just be completed or delegated.

Follow up is one of the most important parts of delegating. Give deadlines. Schedule touch base meetings. Have the person you are delegating to set the touch base agenda so all of their questions, concerns and touch points are covered.

Other delegating points:

• Delegate the objective, not the procedure.
• Give deadlines, simply saying "when you have time to complete" is not going to work.  There are no clear expectations of the task.
• Give credit and be sure to say thank you.
• Communication is key - know the person you are delegating to and properly explain task.
• Allow for a different view, approach and be open to new solutions you may not have thought of.
• Think long term. Training someone now, can save time in the future.

And remember the difference between delegating a task or dumping a task!