How To Delegate Effectively

No matter what your leadership position, one of the most valuable skills you can learn is how to effectively delegate responsibility to those around you. Because you alone cannot accomplish all your goals whether they be to increase productivity, bring in a steady flow of customers or satisfy all project requirements, you need to assign tasks and responsibilities to those around you. As a team leader, it will be up to you to monitor the progress of team members and feedback or help whenever appropriate – what gets measured gets done.

DETERMINING SCOPE OF PROJECT

Depending on the scope of the project, you may be able to break down large tasks into smaller ones or give team members multiple tasks. Before assigning any tasks, it is important for you to have an understanding of what needs to be done in order to complete a project on time and in a professional manner. Take a closer look at the proposal and other documents that pertain to the project. Decide how many team members will be needed and how long the project should take.

The more you understand what the project requires, the easier it will be to assign tasks. Always be prepared to make changes if team members are involved in other projects or if you need help from another department. Track the projects progress and assign extra help when needed.

ASSEMBLING TEAM MEMBERS

In order to assemble the right team, you should have an idea of what each team member is capable of. This means reviewing past performance, special skills, and areas of expertise. If your team is involved in a project that requires additional skills or experience, then you may need to ask other departments for help and advice. Don’t be afraid to ask other supervisors for assistance as they may have a colleague who can help get your project started or help complete it.

Once your team has been assembled, create a list of tasks that need to be completed. Since many projects are completed in phases, you may need to assign different parts to smaller groups or individuals. As each phase is complete, another team will contribute. Some projects only require one or two phases that can be completed simultaneously by the entire group.

ASSIGNING INDIVIDUAL TASKS

Individual tasks including meeting with clients, creating presentations, or serving as a project consultant may be required for large scale projects. These tasks should be assigned to those who have dealt with the client before or those who enjoy giving presentations. Ensure that you offer all members of your team the chance to grow by sharing and mixing up learning opportunities and challenges. Problems can occur when you continuously rely on the same people – those who you rely on constantly can become bored with doing the same job all the time, while others may feel underutilized and undervalued.

BENEFITS OF DELEGATING EFFECTIVELY

There are many benefits to delegating responsibility. These include:

• Building a strong team
• Allowing team members to use their strengths
• Creating an environment where projects are completed on time
• Team leaders are freed up to better assist and lead
• Developing people for future growth

Team members will also feel more appreciated and valued when they are allowed to participate in a hands-on manner by using the skills they have learned.

Learning To Work With Different Personality Types

In any field, you will find a variety of personality types that work within it. While this can create an innovative working environment filled with talented individuals, it can also cause stress, tension, and bad feelings. Depending on your own personality, you may be able to work with a variety of different types, while others may not. If you have had some difficulty in the past, you can learn from mistakes you or others have made so your contribution to a negative work environment is kept to a minimum.

TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT

Even if you are not always treated with respect, it is important for you to always act professional and keep your frustration to yourself. Gossiping about others, making jokes about others, or confronting those who are rude or who don’t take their jobs seriously is not a good idea. This will only lead to more angry feelings and negative attitudes.

Instead, understand that many times coworkers are not upset with you; they are reacting to an event that has happened in their personal or work life. It is best to ignore it and go on with your day. If the problem persists, then you can talk to your supervisor, or file a complaint with HR.

WORKING IN GROUPS

When working on a group project, you may have to work with many different personality types. This may be tricky, but there are ways to work together to get the project completed on time. When you are assigned your part, focus on your tasks and don’t worry about what other people have to do. If they can’t complete their tasks on time, the project manager will handle it.

If you are the project manager or leader, make sure when talking within a group that everyone gets their turn. While not all ideas will be used in a project, making people feel inadequate about their ideas is not professional. Lead the group in productive discussion and try to keep personal feelings out of the discussion.

AVOIDING GOSSIP

In every workplace there will be gossip. While it may appear fun to hear the latest news about a colleague, you should avoid contributing to it. Getting caught gossiping can cause problems with other colleagues and may earn you a reputation of being a gossip, a liar or someone who isn’t trustworthy.

Working with others is not always easy. But if you keep your focus on your job, you should be able to deal with different personality types. When confronted with a potentially bad situation, talk to HR or your supervisor so you can resolve any issues as quickly as possible.