Delegating work can be an effective way to get things done while simultaneously helping others feel empowered. But how can you become an effective delegator? If you’d like to read our blog discussing “The Art of Delegating” for tips on how to effectively delegate and the benefits of delegating, you can click here. Being an effective delegator means understanding what tasks can be delegated and to whom. It also means being clear about what you expect to be accomplished and setting expectations with the person to whom you are delegating. By following the tips outlined below, you can become an effective delegator and get the most out of delegation.
1. Hire the right people.
You can’t delegate if you don’t have the right people working with you. That’s why the first step to being an effective delegator is to hire people who are:
- Competent: They should be able to handle the tasks you’re giving them.
- Reliable and Trustworthy: You need to be able to count on them to get the job done.
- Motivated: They should be self-starters who don’t need to be micro-managed.
The best way to find resources like this is to ask for referrals from people you trust. Spend time reviewing the company’s website and/or LinkedIn to see if what they offer resonates with your pain points and challenges. If so, schedule a discovery call with them. Prepare questions ahead of time to ensure you touch on everything you’d like to address and use this time to discern if they are a good fit for you. Think about their work style, solutions, availability, terms of engagement, business model, skill set, onboarding process, and cost. It is also important to understand their sales cycle and the steps to becoming a client. And always remember, taking the time to ensure they are a good fit for your need and your company culture beforehand greatly increases the likelihood they are happy and successful in their role and an asset to your company.
2. Introduce your team to your clients.
As a delegator, one of your key responsibilities is introducing your team to your clients. This may seem like a simple task, but there are a few key things you can do to ensure this goes smoothly and is effective. Take the time to explain the team members’ roles and highlight their key capabilities. It’s important the client understands who will be doing what, and how everyone will be working together. This will help to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings down the line. Finally, be sure to emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration. Encourage the client to reach out to the team with any questions or concerns and let them know they can always count on the team to work together to get the job done on time and with precision.
3. Change how you talk about your team.
If you want to be an effective delegator, you need to change how you talk about your team to your clients. When you’re the one responsible for a project, it can be easy to micromanage and take on too much responsibility. Instead, learn to trust your team and communicate that trust to your clients. Instead of saying “I’m the only one who knows how to do this properly,” try saying “My team is full of experts who can handle this.” This language reassures your clients they’re in good hands, and it also demonstrates your faith in your team’s ability to handle the job well. Lastly, remember that delegating doesn’t mean abdicating all responsibility. You’re still ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your team but delegating to your team members is a necessary part of effective management. By learning to delegate effectively, you can take on more responsibility without becoming overwhelmed.
4. Record training sessions.
A very effective and efficient way to share your knowledge with your team is by holding and recording training sessions. This eliminates the need for instruction manuals (which take additional time and energy to create) and allows you to pass your knowledge to others through working sessions. Hop on a screen share the next time you are performing the work you would like to hand over to a team member and record the session. This gives your team member a chance to see the process, ask any questions along the way, and the recording provides the team member (and anyone in the future who may also need to be cross-trained on this process) the ability to watch or rewatch the session later to learn the process or for a refresher.
Before your training session, there are a few things you can do to make sure your recordings are effective. First, be sure you have a clear and concise objective for the recording, then note it verbally when you start the recording. This will help you to stay focused on what is important and will also help you to edit the recording later if needed. Second, record the session in a quiet environment. This will ensure your recording is of high quality and will also help your trainee focus on what is being taught. Finally, consider running through the process beforehand, so your steps are efficient, concise, and well thought out. The clearer and more thorough the process is for the recording, the less likely it is you will have gaps in the process or questions that will need to be answered later.
When it comes to delegation, it is as important to clearly outline the work you’d like to delegate as it is to identify who is best suited for the tasks at hand. If you struggle with pinpointing the best opportunities for delegation, this worksheet: Remote COO Delegation A Tool For Growth is your new best friend! It will guide you through the process of identifying the activities you perform in a day that are not the best use of your time. Additionally, to be successful, trust is a crucial component of delegation – if you do not trust your team members to complete the work, it is probably not worth delegating in the first place. If you are looking for competent, reliable, and trustworthy team members capable of handling the work you need to delegate, reach out to Remote COO today!