6 tips on how to delegate work so it actually gets done

Know when to delegate work

For me, I think this is the crucial one as there are some things that you shouldn’t delegate. Not because they wouldn’t get done but wouldn’t be done right. Dependant on your company structure this would vary but things such as disciplinaries, recruitment decisions, difficult conversations, business objectives/goals or anything that may affect the business (if you are the business owner). 

Don’t delegate things that you feel uncomfortable doing because chances are who you delegate to will also feel this way and have no one to ask for support. You also don’t want to be known for delegating rubbish because eventually you will end up doing it all yourself.

How to delegate work so it actually gets done

There are various factors to consider when delegating work.

Know when to delegate work

For me, I think this is the crucial one as there are some things that you shouldn’t delegate. Not because they wouldn’t get done but wouldn’t be done right. Depending on your company structure this would vary but things such as disciplinaries, recruitment decisions, difficult conversations, marketing KPIs, or anything that may affect the business (if you are the business owner). 

Don’t delegate things that you feel uncomfortable doing because chances are who you delegate to will also feel this way and have no one to ask for support. You also don’t want to be known for delegating rubbish because eventually, you will end up doing it all yourself.

Know your team

You need to make sure the work is delegated to the right person and this is where knowing your team or colleagues comes in. It’s not just about whether they can do it which we cover next.  Firstly, it’s understanding if they have the capacity to complete the work. For the eager beavers who are willing to take on any additional responsibility, can they really manage the extra workload or is something going to be sacrificed? For the skilled person to do it, does it motivate them and make them want to do a good job or will it just be another mediocre job? Or even a job completed at all.

Play to strengths

This again comes down to knowing your team, but this is knowing their skills and strengths and maybe more importantly what fires them up. From their daily tasks or work, they have done for you in the past what puts the fire in their belly, and the type of work they love to do? It’s human nature that if you enjoy doing something you will put more effort in and make sure it is done to a high level/of quality and within the deadline. Delegation can be seen as an opportunity if they are taking on additional responsibilities so make sure this is what they want.

Clear information

When delegating work, you need to make sure that all of the relevant information is provided including the problem, any expectations or specific criteria, any budget implications, and the deadline. Checking that your colleague understands is always good to do by asking if they have any questions or how they are going to resolve/complete the work. Be careful when doing this though as you may come across as controlling and micromanaging.

Recognition

When delegating, don’t pass over the information and hope that it gets completed or even micromanage. Make it clear that you are available to provide any support and guidance and available as a sounding board. You will be appreciated more for this and more likely to delegate work again confidently and quickly. Others will also see that if they take some work from you that the support is there.

Provide support

Everyone loves praise even if they don’t admit it, deep down they are smiling which is why thanking people or recognizing the work carried out is such a great motivator for people to do a great job again and on time. It also shows what a great leader you are, and that people will be happy to take work from you.

Conclusion

It is important to delegate if you want to take your business/team forward as always being a doer will not give you that time to focus on goals and objectives. Learning how to delegate work the right way will help you avoid delegating to the same people every time especially if it is project work or something that comes with high kudos. This may start to cause negativity within the workplace and not the workplace culture you want to achieve, be sure to take into account the points above.