How to Delegate
Organization may be your middle name, but you still find yourself struggling to get through all of your to-dos. From walking the dog and doing the laundry to crafting the sales pitch and designing the Web site home page, sometimes the best way to check a task off that endless list is by handing it over to someone else. But delegating doesn’t mean ditching your duty, nor does it highlight your shortcomings. Instead, it can emphasize your good judgment.
“We assume that because we are smart and independent, we should be able to do it all,” says Kathleen Alessandro, president of Energized Solutions, a consulting firm based in Dearborn, Michigan. “Just because we have the potential to do 100 things doesn’t mean we should. Do the 25 that you do well.” And don’t even think about trying to multi-task, Alessandro says. It’s never a wise option, unless your goal is mediocre, half-done work.
However, to delegate successfully means more than just offloading the boring stuff to some poor schlub. It’s more about sharing than shirking. Here’s a better way to delegate and thrive.
Real Talk
Sadly, there are no mind-readers in life. Don’t assume people already know what they need to do, says Leila Bulling Towne, an executive coach based in the San Francisco Bay area. “If you need a task done in a certain way, be clear about that,” she says. “Be specific, use metrics and always have timelines. But be realistic.”
Go for the Goal
Don’t just give the job to anyone. Who you delegate a task to plays a large role in getting it done right. One way to screen a contender, Alessandro says, is to give the person the goal and ask them how they would do it. Instead of saying, “I need you to do X, Y and Z,” Alessandro suggests saying, “I want to do X. How would you help me do that?” Their response would help determine if they have the knowledge and skills that you need.
Step Off
Once you’ve found the right expert, hand over the task—and the reins. Constantly peering over his or her shoulders is not helpful. “Avoid providing criticism unless your comments will dramatically improve the outcome of the project,” Towne says. Accept the fact that no one is going to do the work exactly the way you would, she says. So let it go, or just do it yourself.
–Nicole Blades
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