Delegation is a tricky thing. If done correctly, people grow in their role, the business runs more efficiently and you have more time for other priorities. If not done correctly, you’re back to where you started and the person who tried to help may feel disempowered or demoralized.
Effective delegation starts with you, the leader! Before you can delegate anything you have to get organized, provide all the necessary resources for the person, understand that it is a learning process for them and be patient with the results.
Once you are ready, It is important for you to be aware of what may get in their way so you can address it before it may happen. Here are common reasons why they may resist:
- They don’t want to make the necessary decisions involved
- They are not sure how much authority they will have
- They do not feel equipped with the necessary tools, information and direction
- They don’t see what is in it for them
- They’ve made past mistakes that have caused anger and embarrassment
- They are not aware that you have delegated something to them
- They feel they already have too much to do
- They feel unqualified and lack the confidence
Take the above information into consideration the next time you want to delegate something to a team member. The more preparation you put in, the odds are they will take the task on and be successful with it.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to be an effective delegator check out my book, Interdependent Leadership, in my store. I dedicate a whole Chapter to helping you uncover what may get in your way and how you can improve performance and results by mastering the art of delegation!
