Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Effective Delegation 5/8
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Effective Delegation 5/8
Handing it over
Want to share feedback about the podcast? It would be much appreciated. 3 min survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N72QP67
Delegating a task tends to be a bit of a balancing act. If you offer too little guidance or clarity, it makes it harder for them to successfully complete the task. Telling someone to do something and then just walking away, leaving them to get on with it is delegating… it just often tends to be ineffective because of the lack of oversight and support.
However, too much guidance and instruction can come across as painful micromanaging - one of the least wanted traits in a leader. So you want to try and strike a balance between the two; asserting the right information and asking the right questions.
Try to arrange the handover as early as you can - that way, the other person has as much time as possible to prepare for and complete the task, reducing the pressure on them.
Your activity for today is to spend a few minutes preparing for your handover meeting and then meet up to delegate the task:
- Start the meeting as a human - be inclusive and not transactional.
- Generate buy-in - explain context, rationale and overall benefits, as well as why they were chosen to do it.
- Outline expectations - what’s the desired outcome, the deadline, and the resources available to them. Ensure they know what they can expect from you in terms of availability and support.
- Create room for them to ask you questions - this will help them to take ownership.
- Agree a plan together for how they’ll complete the task and how you can support them throughout, whilst maintaining comfort over its progression.
By using questions instead of directing what you think they should do, you can create a dialogue and build a stronger rapport, as well as their confidence and sense of ownership.
View all episodes
By Benjamin FordHanding it over
Want to share feedback about the podcast? It would be much appreciated. 3 min survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N72QP67
Delegating a task tends to be a bit of a balancing act. If you offer too little guidance or clarity, it makes it harder for them to successfully complete the task. Telling someone to do something and then just walking away, leaving them to get on with it is delegating… it just often tends to be ineffective because of the lack of oversight and support.
However, too much guidance and instruction can come across as painful micromanaging - one of the least wanted traits in a leader. So you want to try and strike a balance between the two; asserting the right information and asking the right questions.
Try to arrange the handover as early as you can - that way, the other person has as much time as possible to prepare for and complete the task, reducing the pressure on them.
Your activity for today is to spend a few minutes preparing for your handover meeting and then meet up to delegate the task:
- Start the meeting as a human - be inclusive and not transactional.
- Generate buy-in - explain context, rationale and overall benefits, as well as why they were chosen to do it.
- Outline expectations - what’s the desired outcome, the deadline, and the resources available to them. Ensure they know what they can expect from you in terms of availability and support.
- Create room for them to ask you questions - this will help them to take ownership.
- Agree a plan together for how they’ll complete the task and how you can support them throughout, whilst maintaining comfort over its progression.
By using questions instead of directing what you think they should do, you can create a dialogue and build a stronger rapport, as well as their confidence and sense of ownership.