Skip to main content.

Final Delegation Tips:

Effective delegation is a skill. And like any skill, it must be learned and practiced. There are clear steps to effective delegation. It’s not just “Do what I tell you to do.” Here are some suggestions to help prepare your employees to succeed:

  • Delegate the objective, not the procedure. Outline the desired results, not the methodology.
  • Ask people to provide progress reports. Set interim deadlines to see how things are going.
  • Delegate to the right person. Don't always give tasks to the strongest, most experienced or first available person.
  • Spread delegation around and give people new experiences as part of their training.
  • Obtain feedback from employees to ensure they feel they're being treated appropriately. A simple "How's it going with that new project?" might be all that's needed.
  • Be sure to delegate the authority along with the responsibility. Don't make people come back to you for too many minor approvals.
  • Trust people to do well and don't look over their shoulders or check up with them along the way, unless they ask.
  • Be prepared to trade short term errors for long term results.
  • Give praise and feedback at the end of the project, and additional responsibilities.