When leading a team, it is part and parcel to delegate responsibility to members of the team. Here are 5 quick tips for effective delegation:
- Be Specific: when assigning responsibility, it is important to be clear and specific regarding the objective. Vague assignments produce vague results
- Start Small: When delegating tasks to newer players, start small and assign something that is relatively easy to achieve. Once completed, increase the complexity. There is an old and valid saying, “The person who is faithful with little will be faithful with much.”
- Reward Effort: Rewarding effort is more important than rewarding “success.” Some of the most amazing inventions are the result of attempts – Post-it notes, for instance, are the result of a 3M lab technician “failing” to create a new glue. By contrast, only rewarding success can cause people to be fearful of trying new things (and facing the risk of failing). Reward effort.
- Regular (Mid-Project) Reviews: It’s play-off season for Professional football in the US. Every week each team reviews the video from its game that week. They do not wait to the end of the season to review action, plans, success, and mistakes. They review “along the way” and make adjustments. The teams that can – and do – adjust, are the ones that are likely to advance.
- Establish a Sunset: Studies show that effective goals are 890-day goals. Longer term goals are less effective. Not every task can be completed in 90 days, interim evaluation points can occur at such intervals. Establishing an end-point – or sunset – can also allow for an opportunity to make adjustments. A sunset can also allow for a natural point in time to reassign the project to a different member of the team. Tasks do not need to be permanently delegated to any one person.
Let us know your ideas for effective delegation.