What is Delegation?
Within the context of leadership, it may be easier to consider what delegation is not.
As an effective leader, delegation is not an excuse to dump all the unwanted work on a team member. That, ultimately, will lead to resentment within the team and quite frankly deconstructs team spirit.
Effective delegation allows a team to use and develop it’s skills and knowledge to the full potential. It can be seen as an efficient tool when a leader decides to entrust a team member with work that she could have done by herself. If something goes wrong, the manager retains responsibility. However, successful delegation will require that assigned tasks should not go badly wrong.
‘Delegation helps to promote and develop the abilities, initiative, self-reliance, and competence of team members’
‘Delegation often has a positive effect on the motivation and job satisfaction of team members’.
How Do I Delegate?
Leaders often hesitate when it comes to delegation.
The idea of passing work on, or handing it down, conjures up images of throwing a hot potato into the lap of a colleague (not nice!).
There may also be an element of maintaining responsibility for work that has been given to us as leaders; Isn’t it our responsibility to ensure that the task is done? We are accountable to our own line managers too.
To delegate proficiently, one must know his/her team.
Patricia Mezu is the Director of Professional Minds FZ LLC, a Dubai based educational consultancy, specialising in early childhood education. www.prminds.org