The art of delegating work: how to do it quickly and efficiently

Delegation of work, namely distribution of your own tasks among subordinates, is something every manager has to do. A leader who keeps all tasks for themselves often has insufficient time actually to lead and develop strategies; moreover, the quality of their work usually plummets when they are overwhelmed. Here are five tips on proper delegation of work to subordinates and achieving the desired results.

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Long-term development of individual talent

First of all, employees need sufficiently effective tools to carry out their tasks, as well as the trust of their boss and sufficient room for their own initiative. You must develop employees, offer them training, hone their skills and increase their responsibility, but you also need to ensure they have the capacity to do what you are asking of them.

Delegation of work based on the expertise of individual team members

According to the Harvard Business Review, the basic rule is to know your subordinates, including their preferences and strengths. Then delegate work according to the expertise of individual workers.

Supporting team cooperation

Another prerequisite for successful delegation of work is the overall atmosphere in the team. This should support mutual help. The spirit in your team should be one of transparency, openness and willingness to help one another. You can only reach this point if your team as a whole has a unified vision and goal.

Sufficiently detailed briefing

Delegation of work as such should be as specific as possible. Be quite specific when assigning work, explain everything to your colleagues or subordinates and, most importantly, agree on what specific outcomes you expect. Agree also on a timeline and set deadlines.

Appreciation of a job well done

Once the project is over, you should reward employees by thanking them. This praise should ideally be public; this way you will also support the positive atmosphere in the team. You should never take all credit for the work yourself.

 

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Article source Harvard Business Review - flagship magazine of Harvard Business School
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