Delegation: Presenting the Work as Important
Posted by Liz Strauss · 2 Comments
When we delegate the most crucial point is when the work is assigned to the person who will execute what needs doing. The way we assign it can have considerable impact on how well the work is completed.
Often when we delegate work, we don’t take the time to explain the value of what we are delegating. We forget to offer the person taking on the work an explanation of where the task fits in the big picture, why the work is important or necessary. The way we hand over work seems to say, “Please do this. I don’t have time for this work — it’s trivial.”
A measureable difference in the quality of delegated work can be seen if we do a few things when we assign it.
- Tell the person taking the work, what it is, where it fits in the big picture, and why the work is being delegated.
- Explain what skills led you to offer this work to him or her specifically, and communicate that you are counting on not needing to redo the work when it comes in.
- Spend time defining the task completely, even if you think the delegatee knows what it is. That projects your sense of importance about the task.
- Ask for a small sample within a day or two of the meeting. This sample will uncover any miscommunication that might have occurred.
These delegation routines are not hard to do, but they are easier to bypass. Unfortunately, when we leave them out, the work suffers.
Behind every Successful business there is an Outstanding manager. –Perfect Virtual Manager
Liz Strauss
I’m going through this at the present moment at work. Being delegated alot of additional work, and with it responsibility, it’s been quite hectic and has cut down my free time but atleast I have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and authority to go along with it.
As the Principles of Management says delegate, but give equal authority as well as responsibility.
Hi TechZ!
The part about giving equal authority and responsibility is where it gets tricky. If somone knows you’re going to check behind him, he knows he’s working with a safety net. If he know’s you’re going to change what he did to your own preference that he can’t predict, he’ll stop trying to do some things. That’s why you have to express how much you are counting on him to do well, because you won’t have time to do it over.