The only way to make sure things get done right is to do it yourself, right? Well, there comes a time when you can only do so much in one day.
Learning to delegate allows you to grow as a person. When you delegate effectively, you can improve your life all around because you are no longer a one-man band that is trying to entertain the world on your own!
Delegating At Work
You might find it tough to delegate at work, especially if you feel like no one can get the job done as well as you. Rest assured, though, that others can do a quality job, but only if you give them the opportunity. They may not do it in exactly the same way as you would have, and that is okay! At some point you need to let go of perfection and allow others to help.
If you have staff available at work, or the ability to outsource work to other companies and individuals, then you have the makings of a great team that can help you grow and succeed.
Consider delegating these tasks:
- Anything that involves data entry.
- Repetitive tasks such as photo copying or filing.
- Fact finding missions and data collection.
- Writing.
- Design work.
It is up to you to decide which functions can be fulfilled by someone else. Once you have chosen a person capable of the task, it is time to consider some detailed plans.
Always ensure that your instructions are clear. Provide details and examples of the end result that you expect and do not focus so much on the steps they need to use in order to get there. If it is technical work, you can create short video tutorials or provide templates and checklists.
If needed, you can check up on the people doing your tasks. Ask how things are going or tell them that you expect progress reports every day or week. This will help you to maintain a handle on whether or not things are on track.
In the end, you must maintain trust that everything will turn out right. While everything may not be exactly as you expected, delegation can still save you lots of time, stress, and headaches.
Delegating At Home
You can apply your delegation skills to your home life as well. You certainly do not need to come off as a dictator, but you can have family meetings in order to get a better idea about everyone’s expectations.
Write out a list of all the home tasks that need to be completed. Decide a fair distribution of who will do what and maintain some clear deadlines.
Do not forget that your children can complete some of the simpler tasks as a part of a chore schedule. Consider some type of reward, especially if you expect the little ones to be active participants. It is a great motivator to reward each other every so often. If everyone has done a great job, consider a family dinner out to relax and let loose.
Evaluate The Results
Whether you are involved with a plan for work or home delegation, it is important to evaluate the results. If you are especially upset about how something has turned out, think about what you can do differently next time in order for things to go according to plan.
Remember to maintain trust and awareness about what is going on around you. Delegation can be a full-time job in itself, but when done right it can provide an improved lifestyle for you and everyone around you.