Delegate: Working On Your Business Instead Of In It

Delegating frees up your time for other business activities. It helps ensure that you are working "on" your business or department, instead of just "in" your business. Like most things, delegation can be done the S.M.A.R.T. way, or the D.U.M.B. way. Here are some tips to ensure you delegate intelligently:

Specific: Know What to Delegate. There are things that can easily be delegated and others that can't be. A good way to determine what you can delegate is to look at all the things you do and see which ones can be clearly defined. Delegated tasks should be clearly defined so both people have a full understanding of the scope of the task or project. Another item to consider is confidentiality. There are things you may not want to delegate because of the sensitive information involved.

Measurable: Track Work and Provide Feedback. You can't just delegate and forget about it. Check in periodically to answer questions, provide feedback, and ensure the work is done correctly. You can be kept in the loop without micromanaging the situation.

Attainable: Give Clear Instructions and Provide Documentation. Giving all of the necessary information is important in delegation. It's also important to think through various situations and how to handle them. It's a good idea to give the person who you have delegated the tasks to time to think about what you need him to do. He may come up with questions he didn't think of before, and you need to be available to answer these questions.

Relevant: Choose Who to Delegate to Wisely. This is a difficult step for many managers. It requires a lot of trust to delegate important tasks and projects to team members. Think about your team members. Consider their talents and abilities. Choose a person and take the time to have several thorough discussions about your expectations. Listen carefully to the other person's comments. When choosing a person to delegate to, consider the following:

- Trust and Loyalty

- Necessary Skills

- Adequate availability

- Work ethic comparable to yours

- Positive performance history

- Willingness to admit mistakes and make things right

Time-based: Keep it Ongoing. Take time on a regular basis to consider what you're delegating and to whom. Also look at upcoming projects to evaluate if they could be delegated. Your responsibilities change, so your delegation needs will also change. By including the possibility of delegation in your regular work evaluation process, you'll become more efficient and better at delegation.