Delegation requires trust. To delegate to others, we must first recognize and dispel the five most common excuses we give to not trust others to do our work.
Reason #1: It might not be done my way.
People have different work styles. It is hard to delegate something if you expect that person to do it your way. Give them clear directions, you can train them and give them the tools needed to do the project. Clearly state your desired end results. Then trust them to complete the project even if their process may be different than your own. That is the tough part. If you give them room to develop the project in their own style, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results. Also, employees will take ownership of their work and feel they are an important part of the project if they feel trusted. This is employee engagement at its best.
Reason #2: You can’t rely on someone else to get it done on time.
Delegation is about building skills in others. You can delegate on different levels depending on the experience of the person. You can ask them to report to you on a regular basis – daily, weekly, or monthly. Or you can ask them to investigate and make a decision but run their decision by you before taking action. This still gives you some control until they are ready to manage the process on their own. Some projects you will turn over and not have them report until the project is completed. Make sure they understand what rules are non-negotiable, give them clear expectations, and tell them they can count on you for support and guidance if needed.
Reason #3: You don’t have the time to teach someone how to do it.
It takes time to make time. Yes, it takes time to properly train someone and to follow-up to make sure they can complete the project correctly. But once you’ve taken the time, you can let the designee make the decision, act on it, and you do not have to worry about it again. Suddenly, you will find you have time for more pressing tasks or even relaxation.
Reason #4: Everyone else is too busy.
Delegation can provide an opportunity for people to learn new skills; skills that could be valuable in moving up in the organization or getting a job/career. You may find that they already have the talent and you can just tap into it. Take the first step in showing how delegating can build trust and create buy-in for your project or objective.
Reason #5: Fear if someone else does it, why am I needed?
The best projects and ideas come from teams who bring different perspectives to the table. You have your own unique perspective to bring to every discussion, every project. But if you are willing to let someone else have some of the work, it frees your time to work on a new project/venture or learn skills/technology which are essential in the rapidly changing world we live in. The willingness to provide shared leadership is a valued commodity in any organization.
Remember to focus on what’s important for the job, the customer, and the organization. It will make you more efficient and valuable in the long run if you are willing to invest in others.
