Life and Career Skills

As a coach and leader, there will be times when you will have to delegate tasks in order to be more productive.   Transferring responsibility can have pleasant or disastrous consequences.

How tasks are delegated is the key to a positive outcome.

There are a few basic rules to follow to ensure that the art of delegation is a positive and value adding exercise for all concerned.

1. Before delegating, make sure that you are clear on what is to be accomplished.

Communicate it clearly and precisely. The person receiving the instructions must be clear on what results you are looking for. Make sure that your instructions are understood. If you are the person receiving an assignment, ask questions if you are not sure what is expected.

2.  Be clear about how you want the results.

Do you want the results by way of a written report, email or presentation? A useful tip is to ensure that the employee achieves the task in the minimum amount of time. Do not insist on a formal presentation if it is not required to accomplish the task is the best route to go.

3.  Most importantly, give a specific deadline.

Whether you are looking for a response in an hour, the next day or next Wednesday, be specific. This accomplishes two things.

• You will receive a response when you need it.

• It tells the other person how urgent the task is and helps them plan their time. They also know that they are accountable to you by that deadline.

"As soon as possible" and "When you have time" are not acceptable deadlines.  They are vague, and can mean different things to people.

4. Make note of the deadline on your calendar.

If you have delegated several tasks, this will help you keep track of them. Do the same when an assignment is delegated to you.

Following these few simple rules will take the stress out of delegating responsibility and you will be able to devote your time to other challenges.