You’re an Information Architect who wants to improve project outcomes. How can delegation help you get there?

1 What is delegation?

Delegation is the process of assigning tasks, roles, and responsibilities to others who have the skills, knowledge, and resources to perform them. Delegation can help you free up your time, focus on your core competencies, and leverage the expertise and diversity of your team members. Delegation can also improve the quality, efficiency, and innovation of your projects, as well as the motivation, satisfaction, and learning of your collaborators.

2 Why is delegation important for IA?

Delegation is especially important for IA because it is a multidisciplinary and collaborative field that involves many aspects of user research, content strategy, interaction design, usability testing, and prototyping. You cannot possibly do everything by yourself, nor should you. Delegation can help you align your IA vision with the project goals, scope, and resources, and ensure that your information architecture meets the needs and expectations of your users and stakeholders.

3 How to delegate effectively?

Delegation is not just about handing off tasks to others and expecting them to do them well; it requires careful planning, communication, and feedback. To delegate effectively as an IA, you must identify the tasks that you can delegate and the ones that you should keep. Consider the complexity, urgency, and importance of each task, as well as your own strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Then, choose the right people to delegate to – those with relevant skills, experience, and availability. Match the tasks to the people who can do them best or who can benefit from them most. When communicating with those you delegate to, explain the purpose, expectations, and outcomes of each task while providing clear instructions and guidelines. Listen to their questions and address them constructively. Monitor progress and provide timely feedback. Celebrate successes and learn from failures while encouraging collaboration among team members.

4 What are the benefits of delegation?

Delegation can bring many benefits to you, your team, and your projects, such as saving time and energy, avoiding burnout and stress, and improving the quality and efficiency of your projects. Through delegation, you can leverage the skills, knowledge, and perspectives of your team members while also fostering innovation and creativity. Furthermore, delegation can enhance the motivation and satisfaction of your team members by empowering them to take ownership and responsibility of their tasks. Additionally, it can strengthen collaboration and trust among your team members by facilitating communication and feedback. Finally, delegation can improve the alignment and coherence of your IA work by ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.