Whether you are the head of a company, a shop or a parent who stays at home, being able to delegate responsibilities is a vital skill in being able to always give your best. Delegating can still be difficult - you need to be firm, steadfast, and believe in the person you choose to leave responsibility for. This article helps you overcome the anxieties of having to entrust someone with other tasks by accompanying you in the actual process of delegation in a tactical and respectful way.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Part One: Getting in the Right Optics
Step 1. Put the ego aside
One of the things that blocks delegation to others is the fact that "if you want to do something well, you have to do it yourself." You're not the only one in the world who can actually do it well. "You can" be that person who does it right right now, but if you take the time to teach someone you will find that he / she will probably be perfectly capable too. Who knows, he might even be faster and better than you (um!), Something you need to not only accept but urge.
Think logically and realistically - can you do it yourself? Will you have to work hard to balance work and normal responsibilities? If the answer is yes, you should be prepared to delegate. Don't be ashamed and don't feel incompetent because you need help - you'll work better if they help you when you need it
Step 2. Stop waiting for someone to volunteer
If you are reluctant to delegate, you may be suffering from a mild form of martyr's syndrome: you are probably caught on all sides and often wonder why no one is offering their help. Be honest with yourself: when it happens, do you refuse only out of kindness? Do you wonder why they don't "insist"? Do you think that, if the situation were the exact opposite, you would probably help them without batting an eye? If the answer is yes again, you need to work on "taking control" of your situation. Take yourself the help you need, don't wait for it to be served because it may not happen.
Many people are simply unaware of what happens to others and there is not much that can be done to change them. Release the frustration you may have about someone who doesn't give you a hand; remember that it is ultimately your job to communicate your needs
Step 3. Don't view requests for help negatively
Many people are uncomfortable when it comes to doing this. You may feel guilty as if you are burdening others, or ashamed because you are supposed (for whatever reason) to be able to handle everything on your own. You may also feel proud and see it as a demonstration of your nobility (another manifestation of martyr syndrome). If you consider asking someone for help as a form of weakness, you have to overcome it immediately.
It's actually the exact opposite: trying to do it all on your own is the real weakness because it indicates that you don't have a realistic view of your abilities.
Step 4. Learn to trust others
If you fear delegating because you don't think anyone can do as well as you do, remember two things: first, almost everyone gets good with a little practice, and second, you're probably not as fabulous as you think you are. When you delegate, you not only gain time for yourself, but also give your helpers the opportunity to try something new, develop a new skill, or tackle a different task. Be patient, over time those who help you will be able to perform the tasks they receive as well as you. Unless the task you choose to delegate is "very" important, it is normal for those helping you to take a while to do it perfectly. If it's "really" that vital, think twice before delegating!
Even if you "are" the best at the task you think about passing to a helper, delegating will allow you to do more. If you are the best in the office at the relatively monotonous task of assembling hard drives, but need to prepare a very important presentation, entrust the task to an intern. Better to prioritize those more difficult things, don't feel guilty if you delegate simple and repetitive things if you have other more important things to do
Method 2 of 2: Part Two: Delegate Effectively
Step 1. Start the process
The first step is the most difficult but also the crucial one. You have to jump in and ask someone for help (or, if you are the boss, tell someone to help you.) Don't worry: if you are polite, kind and nice you will not be negative just because you asked (or said you want) for help. Try to be polite while pointing out the seriousness of your request.
- If you're not specifically sure how to ask someone to do something for you, try to be short and courteous. Try something like, "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute? I was wondering if you could help me assemble that bunch of hard drives we just got. I can't do it alone because I'm out of the office today. Can you help me?" Don't put pressure on your helper but make sure he knows his help is "needed".
- Ask and you should (probably) receive. Don't be afraid to delegate because you don't want to be rude or imposing. Think of it this way: how do you feel when others ask something of you? Annoyed, offended? Or perfectly ready to help usually? Probably the second!
Step 2. Don't take the waste personally
Sometimes people won't be able to help you, it's sad but that's the way it is. There can be many causes, the most common being that the person you asked is already working on his or her own. Don't take her too personally, just because she can't (or doesn't want to) do something for you right now, doesn't mean she hates you. It usually implies that she is busy or lazy, nothing more.
If you receive a rejection consider your options: you can usually insist politely but firmly, pointing out how much you need help (which works pretty well if you are the boss or someone with some authority), you can try to ask someone else, or fend for yourself. But if you really need that help, don't be afraid to try options one and two
Step 3. Delegate the goal, not the procedure
This is the key to not becoming a meticulous nightmare. Set clear standards for the kind of result you are looking for and show the person how to get them, but also say that they can do as they want as long as it is a job well done and completed in good time. Give them enough not only to learn but also to experiment and innovate. Don't train her as a robot but as a human being, someone who knows how to adapt and can improve.
This tactic is wise and saves you time and nervous. You have to use the time you have freed up to do something more important, not to constantly worry about how your helper is doing. Remember: you delegated to be "less" stressed, not "more"
Step 4. Prepare to teach your aid
You should always calculate some time to devote to training how to do what you entrust, even if it is something simple. Remember that those processes that seem elementary and automatic to you may not be for those who have never done them. Be prepared not only to initiate your helper to the job he has to do, but also to patiently sift through the questions he is sure to have.
Think of the time spent teaching as a long-term investment. If you train it correctly, you will save time in the future, what you would otherwise spend correcting mistakes
Step 5. Allocate the necessary resources upon completion of the work
You can have many, but the person they need may not be able to access them. Password-protected data, special or specialized equipment can be very important in completing that task, so make sure that the person you delegate it to can access it.
Step 6. Remember that your help can only do one thing at a time
When he stands by you, he doesn't do his normal job. Don't forget that like you, even those who help you will have work times. Ask yourself what he sets aside to finish the assignment you assign him. Make sure you also have an answer when you decide to delegate.
Step 7. Be patient
The person helping you "will" make mistakes while learning how to do the new job. It is part of the learning process. Put it into account. Don't delegate thinking that whoever helps you will do everything perfectly, unless you are completely sure. If a project does not turn out the way you wanted it because whoever helped you was not able to complete it to "perfection", it is your fault, not his. You need to be an asset to your helper, and delegated work can be an opportunity to learn rather than something to fear.
When you teach someone to do something, you are making an investment. Things will slow down at first but productivity will skyrocket in the long run if you've approached it with a positive and realistic attitude
Step 8. Be prepared for any difficulties
Make contingency plans and be ready to step in when things go wrong. Learn what happens if a deadline is wrong or a parameter is not met. Obstacles and unexpected events spring up all the time, whether you are at work or at home, even technology fails at times. Reassure your help that if something happens, you will be understanding and understand it, helping him to respect the times: don't throw him under the train as soon as the wind blows sideways.
Selfishly, this is also a smart move - if your help fears being blamed they will spend more time covering their backs than getting the job done
Step 9. Recognize your helper when needed
Delegation is necessary if you have a lot of responsibilities. However, it is counterproductive to let those who help you work like a slave and then take credit for you. Acknowledge his importance and praise his efforts.
For every compliment for your work, be sure to mention who helped you
Step 10. Give thanks
When someone does something for you, it's important to thank and acknowledge their importance, to let people know how much you appreciate the help. Otherwise you will be ungrateful, even if you are not. Remember that people don't read minds. And if she feels appreciated, she'll be more inclined to offer you help again.
