Coaching for Leaders

117: How to Delegate Work Effectively

Listen Later

I’ve been getting asked a lot in the past few weeks: OK, how do I delegate effectively? On today’s show, how to delegate work and the seven steps you should follow if you want to get the best results for your team and the organization.

I spoke about the broad framework for empowering others back in Episode #53: Get Results From People With Three Simple Steps

Broadly, three areas we need to consider in delegation:

  1. Planning/expectation setting (what this show and the seven steps below are about)
  2. Regular check-in/accountability
  3. Consequences

    4. The Seven Steps of Delegation:

    1. What does success look like?

    • Time = define the deadline and major milestones
    • Cost = staff time, budget, and resources
    • Quality = what the customer (internal or external) expects the work to produce

      • 2. Who is the right person?

      • Who is the best person for the job?
      • What kind of resources do they have?
      • Who do you need to develop? Think succession planning.

        • 3. Communicate expectations

        • Speak in detail to the three areas from step one: Time, cost, and quality.
        • Put it in writing, especially if someone is new or doesn’t have lots of experience.
        • The amount of visibility and complexity of the project indicates how much time you’ll spend here.
        • Error on the side of too much communication, when in doubt.

          • 4. Staff member plans project

          • They need to have ownership over their work.
          • Autonomy is key for engagement. See Daniel Pink’s book Drive* for background on why this is critical for engagement.
          • If there’s a way it has to be done, get them the training on how that is done.
          • If not, let them come to you with the plan.

            • 5. Review the project plan

            • Review to see if it meets the three outcomes you established in step #1 and communicated in step #3.
            • If there are major gaps, address those.
            • If there are minor issues, resist the temptation to make the plan better, unless asked.

              • 6. Establish milestones

              • What’s going to make you comfortable as a manager?
              • Factors you will want to consider: size, scope, visibility, and experience level of the person.
              • Your goal is to hit the sweet spot between micro-management and county-club management.
              • No feedback is worse than negative feedback. See episode #79 for a detailed explanation from Michelle Smith from O.C. Tanner on why this is the case.

                • 7. Provide access to resources

                • What budget do they need?
                • Who do they need to be connected with?
                • What internal politics do you need to help them navigate?
                • What equipment, rooms, resources, and lab time are necessary?
                • At the very least, make them aware of gaps, even if you can’t address or fund every resource.

                  • Download: The Seven Steps You Follow To Delegate Work

                  Discover More

                  Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

                  ...more
                  View all episodesView all episodes
                  Download on the App Store
                  Coaching for LeadersBy Dave Stachowiak
                  • 4.8
                  • 4.8
                  • 4.8
                  • 4.8
                  • 4.8

                  4.8

                  1,393 ratings

                  More shows like Coaching for Leaders

                  View all
                  The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

                  The Look & Sound of Leadership

                  1,167 Listeners

                  The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

                  The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

                  1,339 Listeners

                  Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

                  Teaching in Higher Ed

                  373 Listeners

                  HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

                  HBR IdeaCast

                  145 Listeners

                  Big Swings Only by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.

                  Big Swings Only

                  710 Listeners

                  How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

                  How to Be Awesome at Your Job

                  1,030 Listeners

                  Worklife with Molly Graham by TED

                  Worklife with Molly Graham

                  9,113 Listeners

                  Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

                  Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

                  99 Listeners

                  Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast by John Maxwell

                  Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

                  380 Listeners

                  Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

                  Inside the Strategy Room

                  170 Listeners

                  No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

                  No Bullsh!t Leadership

                  131 Listeners

                  The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

                  The Anxious Achiever

                  568 Listeners

                  Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

                  Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

                  837 Listeners

                  A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

                  A Bit of Optimism

                  2,209 Listeners

                  Coaching Real Leaders by Muriel Wilkins

                  Coaching Real Leaders

                  677 Listeners

                  HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

                  HBR On Leadership

                  170 Listeners