Delegation

     

A utility company superintendent took two crews into the field to install poles.  He gave each foreman his assignment and then left to attend to other duties.  Upon his return, he asked one foreman how many poles his crew had installed.  The first foreman replied, “Twelve.”

After inspecting the work, the superintendent went to the second foreman to make the same inquiry.  The super was surprised to learn the second crew had only installed two.  Naturally, the super asked the second foreman, “Why just two when the other crew installed twelve?”  “I know,” said the second foreman, “but look how much they left sticking out of the ground.”

Certainly, there can be pitfalls to delegating.  Yet many successful business people learn the power of leveraging your workforce through delegation.  The benefits of delegation include:

• Saving time for other pressing work.
• Increasing effectiveness by matching the right job and the right worker.
• Providing on-the-job growth opportunities for workers.

Here are a few ideas to increase your effectiveness when delegating:

• Choose people who will take responsibility-Demonstrate trust and faith in others.
• Match assignments to people’s skills - Delegate to people’s strengths, skills, and experience.
• Communicate expectations, not procedures - Provide guidance as needed or requested.
• Don’t expect perfection - Accept that your way is not the only way and weigh the differences.
• Allow for creativity - They may find a better way to do it.