It’s not often we find ourselves bigging up Presidents of the United States of America, especially these days, but probably the definitive definition of delegation comes from one ruminative Ronald Reagan.
The ex-Commander In Chief and star of monkey movie Bedtime For Bonzo, said: “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.”
If you’re keen on displaying leadership qualities at interview for any of the top Executive and Management roles on s1jobs, these are wise words indeed.
After all, allowing others to achieve personal goals while steering your company strategy is a skill that will not only help you live an easier life – it will enable and motivate managers and executives at every level.
So to help you in the fine art of successful delegation, here are five top rules.
- Choose Wisely
Don’t ask Charlie from accounts to oversee the new TV ad campaign simply because he likes Bridget Jones movies. The person you’re delegating to must be qualified to do the job. Identify skill sets before appointing tasks.
- Explain Yourself
If you want mushroom and ricotta ravioli, don’t ask the waiter for pasta. Being specific is vital to getting the results you want. So take time to sit down and iron out details. Unless you like penne arrabiata.
- Count to Ten
Cheryl is not you. It takes time to be you. In the art of delegation, patience is not a virtue it’s a necessity. So be prepared to switch off the stopwatch, cut some slack, and above all, be there to offer Cheryl a helping hand.
- Easy Does It
Delegation is not a byword for taking the week off while everyone else gets on with it. Ensuring everyone is pulling their weight, sharing tasks vital for company business, is productive. Shifting your tasks on to a workload simply increases that workload. Recognise the difference.
- Always Follow Up
It’s always nice to say thank you, but in the work arena this is the difference between having employees who feel appreciated or harbour resentment. Go beyond a ‘cheers for that!’ and offer feedback on a job well done – or constructive criticism on how we can do it better next time.
The one thing you should never delegate? Boosting your own career goals with top vacancies on s1jobs