Running a business or practice can be a daily challenge. Everyone else seemingly does it so easily, so why does it sometimes seem like so much hard work? This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations.
Business owners’ key frustrations can almost always be sorted into time, people or money issues with the people category making up the lion’s share. In today’s article, we discuss delegation.
Q: I try to give my staff responsibility by delegating work projects to them with varying and generally uninspiring results. What are the secrets of delegation?
Clarity and communication. It’s no good you having a picture in your head of what you want and expecting them to mind read.
Example: Jim, can you put together a report for me on xxx please? Depending on how Jim interprets this, you might receive a novel, a half page summary or something in between. That’s if or when you receive it, because he was given no clues as to length, content, timing or even purpose.
Good delegation needs precise details of what is required; the reason or purpose it’s required; the format; the inclusions and a time frame. And of course it’s preferable to preface the request with something like: Jim, what’s your day/week looking like? I have a project I’d like you to do for me, it should take a couple of hours, can you fit it in? At the end of the conversation the manager can check that task is understood and Jim should know he is free to ask for further information during the process.
Watch for Part Thirty of the Q & A series…coming later this week!
Until next time…
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