It may feel counter intuitive in times of crisis, but now more than ever it is important to remember that as a leader, it is your responsibility to empower your team to grow and develop in role and skill, as well as maintain your own ability to stay focused on strategy – working ‘on’ the team rather than in it.  The biggest blocker to this is often the inability to delegate effectively. 

Ineffective delegation impacts your wellbeing, holds your team members back and stifles team performance. We need more and more from our leaders and our people right now and delegation is key to the mutual success of you, your team and your organisation.

Here are seven tips to help you delegate for success:

1. Define the why – ensure your team know why this task needs to be completed and are clear on both the benefits of it’s successful implementation and the consequences of it not being completed.
2. Set clear expectations as to the desired outcome – how you will all measure success and any constraints e.g. time, resource budget.  Be sure to set expectations for your contribution, or indeed lack of, to keep yourself in check too!
3. Trust – lack of trust is often a blocker to delegation.  Lay the groundwork here.  Build rapport and open communication with your team.  Welcome candorous feedback rooted in the shared purpose of the pursuit of the common team goals.  
4. Set your team up for success – Identify the knowledge gaps and help to fill them.  Train out skills shortfalls and don’t delegate to people that don’t have the capacity, resource or skills to complete the work.  Work to people’s strengths.
5. Collaborate – ask your team members how you can best support them in the task.  Don’t assume.  Your team members will all have different needs depending on how capable, confident and motivated they feel to do the task.  Help them show you how to lead them.
6. Embrace mindful failure – some delegations will fail.  Make ‘lessons learned’ a way of being to ensure you all learn from what doesn’t work to help you set the next project up for success.
7. Create autonomy – make sure your team members understand relative urgency and importance vs probability and impact of risk.  Empowering your team with this information will ensure they are informed to make the tough decisions on prioritisation, risk mitigation and resource allocation. Be ready to let go of bigger decisions when your team are ready to make them better than you.

What will you do differently next week to set your team up for success?

Tracy James is a Berkshire based Team and Leadership coach specialising in SME, Tech and Marketing. She works with existing and aspiring leaders looking to up-level, achieve fulfilment and lead effectively and authentically with intentional influence and impact. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.brightyellowcoaching.com/newsletter, connect with her @brightyellowcoaching, or contact her direct at tracyjames@brightyellowcoaching.com for a free initial 30 minute chat about what you could achieve together.