How to . . . Delegate

MANY of us are poor delegators. Whether we fear appearing inefficient or simply lack the skills to get colleagues to lighten our load, many of us struggle with tasks other people could do. This approach benefits no one.

Nicola Slingsby of True North Coaching and Facilitation believes that effective delegation helps to “keep things moving and allows others to learn and grow”.

“All too often, we complete the tasks that can be best done by others,” she said.

If you wish to delegate a task to someone else, begin by providing a context so that the person understands why you are giving them the task. You will need to be sensitive to working relationships so that you do not offend anyone.

“If you want to support an equal status partnership, it is advisable to ask rather than tell somebody to do something. Ensure that your tone is not ‘parent to child’ but rather ‘adult to adult’,” said Slingsby.

Here is some advice on how to be a good delegator:

Explain why you are delegating a specific task. For example, say: “The report needs to be completed by noon tomorrow because I need the information for a board meeting.”

Ask the person you are delegating to to do the work if they have the time and skills to do it. If not, discuss what would be needed for them to be able to do it;

Do not assume that the person understands your request. Check that they have a clear understanding of what is required; and

Be clear about what needs to be done. Be explicit and specific about what is involved and how feedback will take place — by e-mail, phone call or one-on-one meeting. — Margaret Harris