Delegation is a fundamental skill that every leader must hone in order to effectively manage people and achieve organizational goals. However, not all delegation methods are created equal.
Here, 11 Young Entrepreneur Council members share the key strategies that are most effective for leaders when it comes to delegating tasks and responsibilities to their teams.
Learning to delegate is an important part of being a leader, but what strategy have you found most effective for delegating tasks and responsibilities to your team, and why?
1. Focus on activities you do best
Step back and think about: (a) what you do really well; (b) what you enjoy doing; and (c) what is the best use of your time from an ROI perspective. Map this out in a Venn diagram. It's very likely that there's enough overlap in the middle (the space occupied by a, b, and c) to fill your days and then some. Delegate everything else. —Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
2. Provide clear, concise instructions
One specific strategy that has been effective for me in delegating tasks and responsibilities to my team is providing clear and concise instructions. When delegating a task, I make sure to explain the expectations, desired outcomes and any necessary resources. Equally important, I always make sure that I make myself available for any questions that may arise during the task's completion. —Andrew Saladino, Kitchen Cabinet Kings
3. Balance delegation and micromanaging
The key to delegating tasks and responsibilities effectively to your team is finding the right balance between delegation and micromanaging. It isn't just enough to delegate tasks to your team; you should also be able to offer guidance and support when needed to make things work best for you. —Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
4. Assign tasks to the right people
One mistake business leaders make is throwing too much work on the wrong person's plate. As a result, the highest-performing team members with the most unique skill sets fill their time with low-level responsibilities or tedious manual tasks just because they can do them fast. If this sounds familiar, you could be wasting precious resources. —Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
5. Set biweekly meetings to discuss projects
There's a time and place for delegating, and when I was a young entrepreneur I would delegate the moment an idea came to me. Now, I set ongoing one-on-one meetings on a biweekly basis to address what needs to be delegated, the priority level for each task, the due dates, and what matters need to be tabled for a later date. This is a more efficient and consistent way to delegate. —Givelle Lamano, Oakland DUI Attorneys
6. Model the behavior you'd like to see
Be very aware that if you are not doing what you say, your team will not do as you do. The most effective delegating strategy, for me, is to be absolutely crystal clear about what I will be doing while other tasks are assigned. At our SEO agency, everyone wears respective hats according to title and ability, and the culture supports healthy delegation, but it is really important that I show up too. —Matthew Capala, Alphametic
7. Assess each team member's skills
Assessing the skills and capabilities of your team prior to delegating tasks and responsibilities is one of the most effective strategies. This allows you to find the right person for the right job and minimize the possibility of any setbacks down the road. Analyzing your team's traits as per different roles helps increase productivity and makes it possible to identify areas of improvement with ease. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
8. Delegate outcomes, not tasks
Ask your team members if they have clarity on what success looks like and then have them repeat it to you. Confirm with them that they have the tools, time, and training to achieve said outcome. Then, get out of their way so they can execute. Hold them accountable for the outcome, not the task or activity. —Devesh Dwivedi, DeveshDwivedi.com
9. Provide necessary support and resources
The most effective strategy I have found for delegating tasks and responsibilities to my team is to clearly communicate expectations and provide adequate support and resources. This means ensuring that team members understand what is expected of them, why it is essential, and how it fits into the broader picture. —Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc.
10. Build rapport with fellow team members
The keys to learning how to delegate are practice and building rapport. You must develop bonds with your team and allow them to work under your direction, even if you're not around. I recommend starting with one or two employees at a time and ramping up as you get more comfortable positioning people throughout the business. —Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
11. Work alongside staff at first
You may initially feel uncomfortable if you're new to delegating tasks to others. Many new leaders have the "I need to do it so it will get done right" mentality. If this sounds like you, consider working alongside the person helping for the first week or so. Allow them to perform tasks as if you weren't there so you can assess their performance and feel confident leaving them alone. —Daman Jeet Singh, FunnelKit
