All workplaces are a team. No matter their skills or experience, no one person can complete all the tasks that are required. Trying to complete too many tasks will lead to poor outcomes for both you and your workplace. That’s why delegation is essential. Delegation occurs when an employee, often someone in a management or senior position, assigns tasks to another employee to complete.
So why is delegation important, and how can you delegate effectively?
Why is delegation important?
Delegation is essential for many reasons. It can:
• Help protect your time: Avoid taking on too many tasks at once, as this can increase stress and the risk of burnout
• Improve workplace productivity: Delegating tasks to people with the right skills can allow them to be completed more efficiently, improving workplace productivity.
• Improve the quality of work produced: In any workplace, different people will have different skills and areas of expertise. In any workplace, team members have different skills and areas of expertise. Delegating tasks to those best suited can improve overall work quality
• Help other team members to develop their skills: Delegating tasks to others in your team, helps them develop their skills.
• Help other team members to increase their confidence: Trusting others with tasks demonstrates your confidence in their abilities, which can improve their self-assurance
• Improve problem solving: Everyone thinks differently. Delegating problems in the right circumstances can help uncover innovative solutions
How to delegate effectively
• Delegate the right type of work: You shouldn’t delegate tasks just because they are menial or you don’t enjoy performing them. Everyone has to complete tasks at work they don’t enjoy. Try not to delegate tasks that are repetitive, tedious or add little value to the company. This will help ensure others feel their contribution in the workplace is valued.
• Delegate work to the right people: You should delegate work to people who have the skills to perform them. If you delegate to people who don’t have the skills to complete a task, the task may not be completed to a sufficient standard. You should not delegate work if you are the only person in your team with the skills and capabilities to perform it.
• Delegate and then let go: Once you have delegated a task, let the employee perform it without interfering unless necessary. Allow them to make decisions relating to the task without always having to seek your approval. You can check in from time to time to make sure the task has been completed according to plan, but not too often! You need to trust that others can perform tasks to the same level as you.
• Give clear instructions: Make sure the other person knows what they must do to perform the task. Try to explain why you have delegated the task. For example, maybe you want the employee to further develop their skills. Alternatively, maybe the task needs to be completed quickly. If somebody has not performed a task before, you may need to teach them the skills required to perform it.
• Provide feedback: When someone has completed a task, provide them with constructive criticism and feedback. If mistakes have been made, be understanding but provide them with advice on how to improve next time.
The ability to delegate is key to successful workplace leadership. Sharing responsibilities of tasks with others will benefit both you and your workplace.
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Article References
Allen, T (15 January 2025) ‘How To Delegate Work To Employees: A Leadership Imperative’, Forbes, accessed 16 January 2025.
Indeed (16 August 2024) ‘Delegation stategies for the workplace’, Indeed, accessed 16 January 2025.
Indeed for Employers (4 November 2024) ‘Delegating Tasks: How to Delegate Work Effectively’, Indeed for Employers, accessed 16 January 2025.