How to Coach Yourself and Others Influencing, Inter Personal and Leadership Skills | Page 102

1. Prepare: Determine which assignments to delegate and who will take them over
(this may be more than one person).
2. Define the task to be completed: Give clear instructions and then ask the
employee to explain what it is you asked him or her to do so you know if they
clearly understood the instructions.
3. Give clear deadlines for when the task(s) must be completed: Ensure that
the deadlines are realistic and that you do not create a situation where the
employee is unable to succeed.
4. Determine how much authority the employee will have to carry out the
assignment: Give clear instructions on how much decision making power the
employee has to move to the next steps and when they need to come to you for
decisions or help.
5. Determine when you will meet with the employee to review the progress
and provide any guidance, if needed: Schedule regular meetings to discuss
the status of the assignment. Be flexible and provide guidance without being
judgmental to improve success of the assignment.
6. Conduct a debriefing session to discuss all aspects of the delegation
process: This allows the employee and you to look at what went well, what can
be improved, what skills need to be honed so the next assignment will go even
smoother.
Once the task is accomplished, and you have conducted your debriefing, it is important
to recognize the employee for doing a good job. Recognition can come in many ways
such as through a newsletter, at a staff meeting, or monetarily like a gift certificate or
small bonus if applicable. Recognition will vary depending on the culture of your
business and what is important or appropriate for the employee – the key is recognition
for a job well done.
Following the steps outlined above is important to successfully delegate but it can only
be effective if you are committed to seeing it through and the lines of communication
remain open. You need to anticipate mistakes will happen, but if you follow a set
procedure for keeping abreast of the progress your employees are making with their new
tasks, this will be minimal. As difficult as it is to let go and give up control, you will feel
a sense of relief and satisfaction once you begin to let others handle certain aspects of
your job. Your employees will be able to grow, along with you and your business.
Resource:
So You Think You Can Do It All? - Prepared for the PHCC Educational Foundation by TPO, Inc.
This content was developed for the PHCC Educational Foundation by TPO, Inc. (www.tpo-inc.com). Please
consult your HR professional or attorney for further advice, as laws may differ in each state. Laws continue to
evolve; the information presented is as of February 2011. Any omission or inclusi