Delegation
Human Resources Management
Ever watch good delegates in action? They know exactly which jobs to hand and to whom. They know the old talents to tap and the new talents to test. Somehow, they even make the busiest people feel privileged to do even more. Delegating is a management tool that should be used in every company out there. Mark Twain once said, "To be good is noble, but to teach other's how to be good is nobler?and much less trouble."
Webster's Dictionary defines delegating as entrusting authority to another. The key to delegating is the word entrust. When you delegate, you entrust the entire matter to the other person along with sufficient authority to make it work. It involves authorizing others to carry out specific tasks under your general supervision. It forces the manager to be more organized because the supervisor must outline projects, assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and check progress.
There are several guidelines to effectively delegate. You must communicate fully the degrees of freedom and judgment you expect the other person to use. Delegate authority as well as responsibility. Your subordinate must have the authority to carry out the responsibilities they have been delegated. Setting performance standards also allows the individual to understand the outcome you expect. Finally, delegate your reoccurring work, and don't dump. The supervisor must not abdicate his responsibilities, and must understand that the responsibilities are never lifted from his shoulders, and understand that the responsibilities of the results of the unit are still the managers.
There are five steps to deleg ...