One of the hardest parts of delegating is keeping your distance and allowing employees to perform the work on their own. Give them the space to discover how to proceed. Let them make mistakes, and learn from them.
It's fine to demonstrate what you want the employee to do, at least at the outset. But don't micro-manage along the way or you may wind up doing the bulk of the work on the project. Turn over control to the employee and stay out of the way.
- Warning: Delegation isn't necessarily a time-saver. It may take an extra hour for an employee to complete an assignment that you could've done faster. But treat the added time it takes to get the job done as a long-term investment in developing employees.
- THE EAP CAN HELP: If you struggle with "letting go" so employees under your supervision can accept more responsibility, talk to the EAP about ideas and tips for facing and overcoming this challenge.
It's True! The odds of successful delegation soar when you: 1) Confirm that the employee understands your expectations and your instructions. 2) Track progress so that you show interest in results. 3) Grant the employee the authority, freedom, and flexibility to do the work. |