Effective Delegation – A Ladder To Success

Effective delegation is an art in itself and one of the key management skills. It greatly depends upon the effective application of some logical rules and techniques to get a task accomplished successfully. By applying the right methods of delegation, you can motivate people, manage time, groom a successor as well as supervise the individuals. However, a wrong approach can also lead to unnecessary confusion, frustration, de-motivation and failure in business. Delegation is not dictating terms to your subordinates. It is a teamwork that has to be achieved with willingness and co-operation.

Seven Steps To Success

An effective delegation always begins with an agreement between two individuals where the assignee of the task agrees to take on the responsibility. However if you are planning for a delegation, here are seven golden rules to follow to achieve an effective delegation.
1. Identify the desired result: First step involves that you must plan a desired output. You must be sure what you want to get done through others. You have to be clear and explain your desired outcome to the delegate and make him agree to it.
2. Decide the guidelines and standards: Secondly, you have to set some standards and plan the order of work. It should be properly communicated to your delegate. You should be ready to answer all his queries and doubts and make sure he understands them thoroughly.
3. Define the resources: Thirdly, it is your duty to educate your delegate about the available resources and budget, within which he has to function.
4. Assure rewards and consequences: The fourth rule is to follow the logical aspect of an individuals mind. People will take more interest in the job only if they are sure that their work will be rewarded and appreciated appropriately. Hence, inform your subordinates that good work will carry adequate rewards and vice versa.
5. Let them practice: The fifth step involves that you provide your subordinates appropriate time to practice. Initially they may commit mistakes. However, you can guide them by providing feedback. Remember that only practice can make a man perfect.
6. Entrust the total responsibility: As a sixth rule you must now handover the full responsibility to the delegate once he is ready to take over the job. Give him total freedom to plan his course of action and let him set his expertise into motion.
7. Monitor their progress: The seventh and final rule is that you have to monitor the work done by the employees. You have to fix periodical reporting schedules and discuss the progress of work. Thus, you can make sure that your delegates are proceeding in the right direction and are capable of rectifying errors if any.

Benefits Of An Effective Delegation

If you follow the above delegation guidelines, you are sure to reap the advantages of an effective delegation. The advantages of delegation are many and to mention some of the major benefits, they
help time management
lead to all round development of teams and individuals
aid succession planning
motivate people

Therefore, you have to remember that a secret to successful business depends upon the delegating skills of a manager. A delegation exercised blindly with improper knowledge of its actual procedure would lead to drastic results. Hence, before proceeding for delegating tasks it is necessary to learn all the techniques and then only go for an effective delegation.

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