How to delegate effectively? 💊
Delegation is not something you learn overnight. Delegation is not a one-shot. It’s an investment: extra work for some time to get rid of it, hopefully, 100%, and hopefully forever.
During my mentoring sessions with our Ignite Alumni, one of the main issues they face in their current jobs is that they feel stressed and overloaded because of their new functions after reaching a management position.
Delegation is a win-win for both you, the team, and the company. Delegating tasks means making the best use of time and skills. It also allows your team members to grow and reach new highs in their careers because of the challenges that new duties often bring.
But… How to do it effectively?
Keep in mind that delegation is an investment: extra work for some time to get rid of some tasks. So, let’s get a 4 step process with some tips you can start applying from today:
✍️ Preparation:
Review the whole process to delegate.
You can create a checklist of all the different aspects to be taken into account or all the steps in the process.
Check that all documentation and material is up-to-date and can help anyone taking it over. If not, you need to improve it beforehand.
Validate and make sure the process is working. You can record it to have more documentation, up-to-date, and very easy to consume (i.e. loom videos).
💡 Onboarding:
Explain the outcomes to motivate, not just tell them the tasks to be done —Tell them the why, not only the how and what. Explicitly describe desired results.
Support the team, they need to feel safe and know they will have someone by their side when they have pressing questions or something is not going as expected.
Be explicit with what you need and provide clarity with what can happen if they succeed. It builds motivation and commitment. Discuss how success will impact financial rewards, future opportunities, informal recognition, and other desirable consequences.
🤝 Accompany the process:
Accompanying the process at the beginning will be very important to give them confidence and assure you that the process is going as expected.
After the process, you can have a Q&A, discuss the notes and resolve doubts.
📏 Monitor & Measure
If you provided desired results, use them to measure the performance.
Keep up to date with progress, and focus on results rather than procedures.
If you documented the whole process, use that checklist to understand areas overseen or where the outcome is worse.
Give constructive feedback! Provide recognition where deserved and also mention which could be improved on the next delegated task.
As you have seen, delegation is one of the most important skills to develop when you become a tech leader. Not only will it bring benefits to you and your team, but your company as well. Just remember that the delegating process requires trust, time, and patience.
📄 Tips to start delegating
Dario Rodriguez, CTO at Destinia and active member of our Lidr community, shared 6 rules he follows to delegate within his tech team.
🔗 Read the article here • 3 min
🎥 Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Communication is critical to success in business and in life. Learn and practice techniques that will help you speak spontaneously with greater confidence and clarity.
🔗 Watch the video here • 59 min
✍️ Leading engaging onboardings Workshop
Do you wonder how to make the onboarding of your new team members memorable? How to get the most out of those first days, how to boost their engagement from day 1? Join us in this CTO Insider workshop with Dóra Irányi and learn it by doing.
🔗 Get the workshop here • 70 min