Like it or not, delegating is an essential part of management. Managers who don’t do it well are stuck shouldering an impossible workload.
Here are ways to ensure you’re delegating work and responsibility the right way — to the right people:
1. Find the right fit. When it comes to delegating work, it’s important to look past a job title and focus on the skills the employee brings to the table.
Don’t be afraid to pass over an employee with a higher job title for one whose skills match up more clearly with the task at hand.
2. Stay on the same page. Before delegating any tasks to an employee, make sure you’re both on the same page.
Example: If you ask an an accountant to host the monthly budget meeting, it’s vital that he or she understands exactly what the goals are.
One way: Ask the employee to tell you – in his or her own words – exactly what the meeting will cover and what he or she will accomplish with it.
3. Touch base often. It’s important to check in frequently after delegating work to Finance staffers. Ask questions like, “Is there anything else you need from me?” or “Is that deadline feasible?”
4. Let them take the lead. While you need to check in, it’s even more important to back off and let workers go ahead with the actual legwork.
