As much as I would love to do everything myself, I know there are times when I need to delegate my responsibilities. Not only does it allow me to get more things done, but it also permits me to have more down time. In order to delegate, you have to put aside that controlling aspect of yourself and just have faith that someone else can help you. If you're in the situation where you realize you have to start delegating, there are several ways to help you do so successfully.
Pick the right person
The biggest way to increase your chances that the task will be done correctly is to hand it over to the right person. Choose someone who is capable of following your instructions without hounding you with a thousand questions.
Be specific
I've seen bosses hand a stack of papers to an employee and say "Do this" only to have the person look panic-stricken and confused with no idea what to do. If you want something done correctly by someone else, you have to be specific with what exactly it is that you need. No one is a mind-reader, so make sure the person clearly understands what's expected.
Put it in writing
There were quite a few instances when having things in writing was very beneficial. A couple of times, my boss thought she asked me to do something on a project, but after completion, she realized she never wrote it down so I didn't get in trouble for it. Then there were times when, had I not had the paper to go by, I would have forgotten a step or detail that had to be done. Whatever task it is you're delegating, put it all in writing even if it takes you a few minutes to type it out. It could save you hassle in the long run.
Break the task into a time frame
As soon as you delegate the task, let the person know when you need it completed. For larger tasks, break it up into different due dates. For example, request that a quarter of it be done within two days and another quarter completed within three. The more specific you are, the less problems you'll have.
Have a little faith
You have to have faith that the person you're delegating to is competent enough to complete the task. One of the biggest fears many have is that it's not going to get done the right way, but you're not going to know if that's true until you have a little faith and give the person a chance. Put the fears aside and trust that you made the right decision.
Delegating tasks is essentially putting your faith into others and hoping they won't screw up. It's not easy for someone who wants things done in a very specific way. Keep in mind that delegating is not only for your own benefit, but for that of your business. It also shows the employees that you trust them to do the right thing. You might be surprised how well it can work out in your favor.
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