The Art of Delegating for Leaders

The Art of Delegating for Leaders

One of the major issues observed among managers at all levels is their inability to delegate. To grow as a leader, delegation is a skill one must have. Simply put, there is a risk of getting overburdened and slowed down if one can't delegate duties and responsibilities to others.?

Delegation is the act of transferring authority to another individual to carry out tasks. Distribution and delegation are one of the most important leadership qualities.

According to research conducted by Garvin, many leading businesses, including Google and Facebook, recruit talent by fostering a flexible management culture where authority is transferred, and subordinates are largely involved in decision-making.

One of the most vital and challenging skills required to progress, succeed, and prosper as a leader in the corporate world is delegation. A Gallup analysis of the entrepreneurial skills of 143 CEOs on the Inc. 500 index revealed that companies led by leaders who effectively delegate responsibilities grow faster, yield more profit, and generate more employment.

Delegation helps in team empowerment, trust-building, and boosting efficiency. Leaders who delegate among their teams gain strength and faith in both themselves and others. Delegation strengthens relationships and establishes trust, thus enabling growth and success. So, to make the team members enthusiastic about coming to work every day, delegation is a must. In fact, in a survey conducted by Stanford University, 35% of CEOs acknowledged they need to strengthen their delegation skills, while 37% stated that they are actively striving to enhance their delegation skills.

However, delegation is not always easy. If we over delegate, we risk burdening our subordinates and making them feel unappreciated. On the other hand, if we under-delegate, we might end up feeling buried under a mountain of trivial tasks.

According to a statistic from the late London Business School professor John Hunt, about 30% of managers think they can delegate effectively, and only 33% of them are regarded as effective delegators by their team. Delegation is a crucial management technique that many fail to perform properly.

Then, how can we achieve the perfect balance? Here are five keys to effectively delegating work:

• Have a Clear Vision: Determine the duties to be delegated. Before delegating, leaders should have a clear vision for the task to be completed properly. Set a target of spending no more than 20% of the time on low-value work and 80% of the time on high-value projects
• Build Trust: If we gain the trust of our team by being competent leaders, they will be more inclined to believe that our delegation is useful. Also, it is necessary to trust others for proper delegation of work. For this, we should match people to projects that best suit their abilities
• Provide Instructions: Before any task can be delegated effectively, leaders must also be able to provide explicit instructions regarding the objectives they wish to achieve
• Empower Your Team: We need to empower individuals to accomplish the task delegated to them by ensuring they have the required resources
• Give Feedback: Establish reasonable goals, answer the queries of your team, and provide constructive feedback. Avoid micromanaging and allow them to learn

Delegation is truly a powerful tool that can do wonders for businesses if properly executed. It has many benefits, such as:

• Saves time: Effective delegation makes the to-do list short and easily achievable. This helps to achieve collaborative outcomes, and the list of accomplishments grows
• Motivates the delegates: The delegates feel motivated because leaders provide an opportunity for them to demonstrate their abilities. They will take on the challenge if they recognize the benefits, such as accolades, recognition, and higher responsibilities
• Offers a possibility of growth: Delegates have the opportunity to improve their skills and boost their confidence. Likewise, undertaking responsibility increases the chances of growth in the profession
• Promotes a positive work environment: By delegating tasks, leaders experience a sense of control and feel less stressed. They also get the time to offer insightful feedback. Accordingly, delegation makes room for optimism and opportunities that make everyone happy
• Paves the way for innovation: Delegating authority and work promotes the discovery of fresh ideas and working methods. Delegates get to innovate and develop new solutions

Delegation can seem boring if we are only delegating projects and activities. It turns into art when we delegate the right mindset too. This is one of the traits that makes outstanding leaders. It's a win-win situation where everyone gains knowledge and feels more in control.

Key Takeaways:

• Delegation is an art that every leader must master
• It facilitates productivity and business expansion and frees up time to consider bigger and more strategic business objectives
• It assists in resource optimization, enabling leaders to focus on their top priorities
• Delegation helps leaders to make the most out of the team's strengths and increase their versatility