The definition of delegation is the assignment of authority to another person to carry out specific activities. It is the process of distributing and entrusting work to another person, and is one of the core concepts of management and leadership.
That being said, we’ve all heard the phrase “I’ll just do it myself because it’s so much faster”.
Eleanor Beaton, founder of SafiMedia, coach, podcast host and writer (and AMAZING client of ours!), recently stated that “… effective delegation takes serious work on YOUR part…”
What does this mean?
This, in fact, means that delegating saves time in the LONG TERM, not necessarily the SHORT TERM. To delegate effectively means YOU have to invest the time to:
- Think through exactly what you want.
- Figure out if there is a specific way in which you want it done.
- Communicate your plan clearly and specifically — for best results, in writing.
If you think only short term and you don’t see results as effectively (or as fast) as you’d like, you may say things like:
- I knew I was the only one who can do this
- Why can’t I clone myself
- I guess I suck at delegating
Instead, dig a little deeper.
Obviously you aren’t the only one who can get a job done. Did you relay clear expectations? Were you able to communicate what you wanted effectively? Did you essentially sabotage your team by not contributing enough of your time, thoughts and wants?
If you clearly outline your standards and how you want things done in the short term, tasks and projects will run so much smoother in the long term.
“Fear of being labelled “controlling” or “micromanaging” can really hold women entrepreneurs back from giving clear and specific direction,” said Beaton. “If you know exactly how you want something done, why pretend that you don’t?”
The next time you’re faced with a fear of delegation, think back to Eleanor Beaton, and this blog post, and drive forward.
“Your job as a leader is to create a clear container for work to happen. Your team’s job is to make the work inside that container as amazing as it can possibly be. The quality of the end RESULT is dependent on each of us doing our part well.”
You can read the entire article HERE.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks