Things No One Teaches: Mastering the Art of Delegation
In my recent podcast interview with Nicole Mahoney, the topic of delegation came up. In Chapter 5 of my book, Big Gorgeous Goals, I discuss the best practices for delegation, as well as the fact that no one teaches you how to do it! Nicole told me how she recently delegated something to someone on her team, and as time went by, she realized that she hadn’t heard anything about progress. When she was able to finally reconnect and discuss the project, she realized that it hadn’t been made clear if she had it or if she wanted her team member to take it on. This is often a fall down point in the delegation process. Let’s dig into why delegation is important and how we can work to practice better delegation.
The Art of Delegation
Delegation is a powerful tool that allows us as leaders to leverage the skills and strengths of our team members, fostering a culture of collaboration and driving success. However, delegation is often overlooked in traditional leadership training. Let’s explore the significance of delegation, best practices and how to succeed at entrusting tasks to your team.
It isn’t news that part of a great company culture is ensuring that delegation is happening well. Good delegation practices ensure that the team feels engaged and accountable. This is one factor leading to high performing teams. Understanding the strengths of your team, as well as yourself, helps to determine how, when and what to delegate.
A lack of delegation leads to micro-managing, burnout and a team that feels underutilized. This is not a solution for the long term. When I started delegating as we grew the team at Mabel’s Labels, I often found that the work returned wasn’t what I wanted. With some good advice, I was able to realize that the lack of success was more about me than about the staff I delegated the work to.
Key areas to my success in delegating
Trust Your Team – building trust is essential for effective delegation. Trust your team member’s abilities and judgement. By demonstrating confidence in their skills, you empower them to take ownership and excel in their assigned tasks.
Set Realistic Expectations – avoid overloading team members with an unrealistic workload. This is particularly important in times of rapid growth in your business but is always worth thinking about. Setting realistic expectations promotes a healthy work-life balance and prevents burnout.
Provide Feedback and Recognition – making sure that you have checkpoints along the way to ensure that the project is moving along as expected is key. As well, acknowledge accomplishments and give praise where deserved.
Learn From Mistakes – mistakes are inevitable on the path. However, they provide valuable learning opportunities for growth and improvement.
Delegation can transform a group of individuals into a high performing team. By understanding your team’s strengths, fostering a culture of trust and communication, and following best practices, you can unlock the full potential of your team. Embrace the power of delegation and watch as your business achieves new heights of success through collaborative efforts and shared responsibilities.
To learn more about my thoughts on delegation, check out my book page here.
