One of the most difficult aspects of any business is managing work. It can be time consuming, and you might not have enough hours in a day to delegate tasks to other people or do it all yourself. Thankfully, there are many different strategies that will help you delegate more effectively and efficiently so you can still spend quality time with your family or enjoy hobbies outside of work.
A common strategy is to delegate larger projects in the ideation stages while the task still feels small and manageable. If you delegate a project that's too large for someone early-on, they will feel overwhelmed and not take on other tasks as well. As time goes by they'll get more comfortable with the workflow and be able to handle the bigger picture. So, while properly delegating may take more time than you want to spend in the beginning- taking the time to adequately inform team members on a task ensures that you will one day be able to walk away from the project altogether with confidence that it will be completed correctly.
Delegating demands clarity- be as clear as possible with what the deliverable should be, and provide examples. This way it is easier for someone with mental distance from the task to complete your idea. If there is any potential confusion about what the end result should look like, examples play a key role in the visualization of a finished product. If you cannot think of relevant examples of an end goal this may also be a sign that you need to step back and recalculate your intention for the project itself- ensuring a proper project conception seems obvious but is often overlooked.
Building a project management system that makes it easier for you to pass off projects and provide necessary details is crucial in delegating effectively. This doesn't mean delegate blindly- be sure to build a project management system that will allow for the best possible communication and synergy between team members.
The first part of smooth project management is perfecting your interview process. Understanding not only the work experience but the work style of your team members helps put a frame around the kind of tasks they're most suited for. Tasks you may want to pass off range from tiny to time consuming, from rush jobs to slow attention oriented goals, from teachable tasks to tasks that you are simply terrible at and thus cannot direct. It's important to remember that all leaders are unique and interview styles aren't universal. Nailing down your interview flow will help you gather the most relevant information in the shortest amount of time.
After tasks have been delegated it is also necessary to remember to delegate management responsibilities, provide feedback, and positively reinforce a job well done.
