How do you delegate with control and trust?

1 Assess the task

Before you delegate a task, you need to assess its complexity, urgency, and importance. This will help you decide who to delegate it to, how much guidance and support they need, and how often you should check in on their progress. A simple rule of thumb is to delegate the tasks that are low in importance and urgency, but high in complexity, to someone who has the skills and experience to handle them. This will free up your time for the tasks that are high in importance and urgency, but low in complexity, which you can do quickly and efficiently.

2 Choose the right person

Once you have assessed the task, you need to choose the right person to delegate it to. This depends on several factors, such as their availability, competence, motivation, and interest. You want to delegate to someone who has the time and capacity to take on the task, who has the necessary skills and knowledge to do it well, who is willing and eager to learn and grow, and who is aligned with your goals and vision. You also want to consider their personality and working style, and how they fit with yours and the task.

3 Communicate clearly

When you delegate a task, you need to communicate clearly what you expect from the person. This includes the scope, deadline, quality, and outcome of the task, as well as the resources, tools, and support they can use. You also need to explain why the task is important, how it contributes to the bigger picture, and what benefits they will get from doing it. You want to make sure that the person understands the task, agrees to take it on, and feels confident and empowered to do it.

4 Monitor and support

After you delegate a task, you need to monitor and support the person who is doing it. This does not mean that you micromanage them or interfere with their work, but that you provide them with feedback, guidance, and encouragement along the way. You want to set up regular check-ins to track their progress, address any issues or challenges, and celebrate their achievements. You also want to be available and responsive to their questions and requests, and offer them help and resources if they need them.

5 Evaluate and appreciate

When the task is completed, you need to evaluate and appreciate the person who did it. This means that you review the results, measure the performance, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the work. You also need to give them constructive and honest feedback, and acknowledge their efforts and contributions. You want to show them that you value their work, that you trust them, and that you appreciate their cooperation. You also want to learn from the experience, and see how you can improve your delegation skills in the future.