7 Effective Ways to Delegate

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. ~Theodore Roosevelt

You know you can’t do everything by yourself. In order to work effectively, you have to delegate. Delegation is an effective way to display your leadership ability. However, when other people are doing the job, you are still responsible for the outcome. To get things done as expected through others, it is important to observe a few things: 

1.      The right person for the right job: Look for people who are enthusiastic and eager to learn new things. It is important to match the right job to the right person. The new job should be challenging enough to ignite the fire in the person doing the job.  

2.      Be clear about what to do: Get it right from the beginning, be very clear about the job scope. Define precisely the boundary of the job. Explain in no uncertain terms what needs to be done.

3.      Expected results and deadlines: The person doing the job must know what the expected results are and when the job is to be completed.

4.      Support: Allow the new person to do things his or her way, do not micromanage.  The main thing is to focus on the results. Let the new person develop his or her potential because they may be able to execute the job in a better way.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. ~George S Patton

5.      Follow up: It is essential to follow up from time to time and check their performance. Do expect mistakes, but rectify as early as possible. Regular review is a way to tell the other person that you care about them.

6.      Get feedback: Find out about their response to the new assignment. Solicit ideas from them to get things done more efficiently and effectively.

7.      Provide feedback: It is vital to notify and show appreciation for a job executed correctly and done well. It is an excellent way to motivate them to work harder and promote their creativity. Delegation is an effective way to groom future leaders.

No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit. ~Andrew Carnegie