Accredited associate coach and professional speaker, facilitator and trainer Renée Giarrusso answers a question on how to delegate.
Q: With so much on I know I need to delegate but always find this hard to do. How can I effectively do this?
Jessica, National Business Manager
A: Delegation is one of the key challenges many people face and the main reason for this can include: fear of tasks not being done correctly, lack of trust, guilty of giving others more work, and sometimes just a lack of awareness of what needs to be delegated.
Another reason delegation can be challenging is that when you don’t know the strengths and motivators of those around you, this leaves you feeling unsure of who is capable of taking on the task.
The question to ask is: what will it cost you not to delegate?
Think about the time you could be spending on other things that could take your business and team forward while creating future leaders in the process.
Delegating effectively to the right people has so many benefits, including the fact that you are creating future leaders, building capability across the team and business and, at the same time, providing time for you to do what really matters by growing others in the process.
Strategic thinking, being an industry standout in what you do, and planning what is next in your business are vital, and this can all be stifled by hanging on to tasks and responsibilities that no longer serve you.
You need to change your mindset and look at delegation as a gift of opportunity. This will change the energy and thoughts you have around this and therefore the outcome.
A few tips on delegating
- Delegate what you like doing:
- Yes, let go of what you have grown from and let someone else learn and experience this.
- Be clear on what you are delegating:
- Take the time to debrief the task, give the what but not the how, empower the other person to come up with the way they will achieve this.
- Choose the right person:
- Look at capabilities, capacity and delegate as part of a master plan.
- Communication:
- Have open lines of communication and agree on the modes in which you will communicate.
- Plan to follow up and check in and know what success looks like.
- Recognition:
- Acknowledge the person/s along the way and at the conclusion of whatever has been delegated.
- A great way to share best practice is to get the other person/s to share the process and what they learnt – a win-win for all.
- Delegate to more than one person:
- Lighten the load and delegate nominated tasks to more than one person.
- A great way to appreciate each other and leverage skill sets.
Grow yourself, grow others
Delegation can really pave the way to get a deeper understanding of each other’s strengths, capabilities and hidden talents. Change your mindset around delegation and look at it as a way of growing others and letting go of what you have already learnt from.
Ditch that meeting you know you don’t need to be attending and get the team to alternate in running the meeting in their own unique way.
I almost see not delegating as being a bit selfish – let go and grow others!
Do you have a question for Renée?
Email yoursay@retailmedia.com.au or reach out to Renée on social media. Each month a question will be answered and advice given on communication, motivation and leadership.
About Renée Giarrusso
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker. She is the author of ‘Limitless Leadership’ and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
You can follow Renée and all her work on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog.
M: 0408 381 641
W: reneegiarrusso.com
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