How to Delegate Tasks Effectively in 6 Easy Steps
1. Choose the right person for the job.
A key step to effective delegation is knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each member of your team. Once you’ve identified the tasks you’d like to delegate, you’ll need to choose the right person for the job.
Common sense should prevail here: avoid delegating tasks that require lots of collaboration to someone who prefers to work alone. Likewise, you should avoid delegating tasks that require lots of calculations to employees who struggle with numbers.
You may also want to consider sitting down with your team and allowing them to select the tasks they’d like to work on. Letting people choose their responsibilities is another great way to build engagement and trust within the team.
2. Explain why they were chosen for the job.
Once you’ve selected the right person for the job, have a one-on-one meeting and explain to them very clearly why they were chosen for the job. Getting their buy-in ensures they’ll be committed to the task and will try their best to perform exemplary work.
Help your employee see the task as a means to diversify their skill set or take on greater responsibilities. Demonstrating that you’re committed to their growth and value their competence further reinforces professional relationships and trust.
3. Give clear instructions & set proper expectations.
To ensure that the task is executed correctly and in a timely manner, always provide clear instructions and provide a proper timeline. If the task is rather complicated, consider documenting the steps.
Alternatively, you can supply your employee with basic and important information and avoid micromanaging. Clearly communicate the milestones and goals they’ll need to hit and allow them to achieve these objectives in their own way. As long as they’re able to deliver the expected results, avoid interfering with their processes.
4. Provide adequate resources & support.
Before delegating the task, ensure that your employee has the right tools and support to get the job done. If they lack the skills to complete the job to the expected standard, provide a way for them to acquire or refine those skills.
If your subordinate has any follow up questions, be prepared to accommodate them or direct them to the resource or person who can best answer their questions. Providing adequate resources and support will ensure the smooth execution of the task.
Just as importantly, empower your employee by giving them the authority to make decisions on their own. This way, they can solve their own problems and collaborate with those who can help them without having to consult you with each decision.
5. Provide constructive feedback & regular check-ins.
While you should always avoid micromanaging your employees, they will benefit from regular check-ins and constructive feedback. Periodic check-ins will help you assess their progress, while constructive feedback will give your employee actionable information which they can use to improve their work.
6. Show gratitude & give credit.
Once your employee has completed the task, show genuine gratitude, and point out the specific things that they did well. Don’t forget to give your employee proper credit whenever it is due.
Delegate Recurring & Non-core Tasks to Your Sigrid.AI Remote Executive Assistant
Clerical and non-core tasks that don’t contribute significantly to your employee’s career development or skill enhancement should be delegated to a dedicated remote executive assistant.
Whether it’s managing calendars and schedules, booking service providers, managing documents and inboxes, or captioning videos, your Sigrid.AI virtual assistant can take these tasks off your to-do list so your team can focus on meeting major objectives and driving results.
Small teams that require the services of a dedicated virtual assistant should consider Sigrid.AI’s Enterprise Plan. This plan is ideal for teams of up to five members that require full-time support from a dedicated EA and various specialists in fields as diverse as accounting, remote event management, IT, and social media management. Your EA and attendant specialists can also provide support for major and minor ongoing projects.
Are you interested in learning more about how to hire a Virtual Assistant? Read our guide 'How to Hire a Virtual Assistant: A Complete Guide'.
For more information on our Enterprise Plan and other subscription-based EA Plans, book a free 20-minute consultation today.