Delegating is essential to organizational effectiveness and overall productivity, yet it’s also among the most challenging things to do. You simply can’t do it all. In fact, in many cases, you shouldn’t do it all. If you find yourself struggling with delegation, here are a few tips on how to be a better delegator.

1. Carefully Choose What to Delegate

It can be tough deciding what to delegate. The most common roadblocks are thinking that you can do it more quickly yourself or that you don’t have time to train others. Although those may both be true, those short-term issues may limit long-term growth. Yes, you may be quicker at a task given your experience and in-depth knowledge. However, if you’re a $100 per hour executive and it takes you 30 minutes to do something a $25 per hour employee takes an hour to perform, it’s still more cost-effective to delegate. That’s not to mention the value of having an extra 30-minutes for you to perform high-level tasks that advances the goals and profitability of the overall business.

2. Select the Right Person for the Task

Selecting the right person for the task is key to delegation. People often make the mistake of blindly delegating to someone who is readily available or is the lowest paid (and therefore less expensive). Unfortunately, availability and pay should not be deciding factors. Instead, look at skill sets and career paths. Choosing someone who has the foundation to tackle tasks or an interest in learning a particular skill set is a better approach. Delegation is ultimately an opportunity for others on your team to learn and grow, and if you position it that way, it can lead to mutually beneficial results.

3. Set Clear Expectations

Once you’re ready to delegate, set clear expectations. Make sure team members fully understand what is involved including updates that must be provided, deadlines, and deliverables. If multiple people are involved, clearly define the role of each person and how they should coordinate with one another. Read our article on effective communication for additional tips.

4. Focus on Outcomes

An essential part of learning how to be a better delegator is to focus on outcomes. Team members should understand the ultimate goal and what a completed task looks like. Delegators should provide the resources and tools to achieve those goals but not get lost in the details. Micromanaging defeats the purpose of delegating! Request and obtain updates at key points in the process but give your team the space to work on it without constant interference. Remember that there’s more than one way to accomplish a task and giving team members the freedom to carve their own path can be empowering for them and perhaps even enlightening for you!

5. Praise and Acknowledge

Last, but certainly not least, remember to praise and acknowledge team members for their hard work. Acknowledgment is a universally motivating factor. It leads to better employee morale and instills loyalty among your team. These ultimately improve organizational effectiveness.

Learning how to be a better delegator ultimately makes you more productive and your business more successful. If you’ve had difficulty with this in the past, re-evaluate some of the things listed above. Did you choose the right tasks to delegate and the right persons to accept those responsibilities? Did you effectively communicate the tasks and expectations and focus on outcomes? Did you take the time to praise others for their successes rather than focusing on their failures? Paying attention to these important aspects of delegation will make you a better delegator!

Learn how working with Remote COO can help you delegate to give you the freedom and time you need to grow your business.