Tips for Delegating Authority
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:18 am
An American speaker, specialist in the psychology of success and business efficiency, has developed several golden rules for delegating authority.
Distribute tasks according to the competence of employees . If you have an experienced specialist in front of you, assign him complex tasks, for average-level performers choose simpler tasks. Find something for everyone according to his abilities.
Delegate gradually . Don't overload the employee with too many tasks at once.
Assign responsibility for completing the betting email list task . It should not be that the newbie works on the task, and someone else bears responsibility for it. The opposite approach increases motivation and self-confidence. After all, if not him, then who?
Clearly state the expected outcome . Make sure you are understood correctly.
Discuss the work together . Don't avoid communicating with your team, this is an important aspect of delegation.
However, do not overdo it with control . Do not demand constant reports. Let the employee feel responsible. If questions arise, he will always be able to ask for clarification.
What problems can you encounter in practice?
When a manager decides to delegate some of his/her responsibilities to a subordinate, he/she may encounter various obstacles. This may manifest itself in the form of reverse delegation from employees, excessive control by the manager, and repeated handovers. These problems sometimes arise regardless of how well the task was formulated and may be related to the human aspect.
Read also!
"How to increase the flow of customers by choosing the right method"
Read more
Reverse delegation
An employee approaches his boss with a request to perform a specific action that is necessary to move the work forward. For example, he needs to order an advertising stand for an upcoming conference.
Reverse delegation
Source: shutterstock.com
Typically, conference organizers publish requirements for advertising materials, but the employee still goes to the manager to clarify what size the stand should be. At this stage, the task is stopped. If the manager starts looking for information about the banner size on his own, he is effectively returning responsibility for the task that he had previously delegated to his subordinate.
There are four areas where difficulties most often arise with reverse delegation.
Reverse Delegation Scope How to return responsibility to subordinates Example of a typical situation Example of a solution to the situation
Information and its search Provide useful sources of information, but do not provide direct answers to questions. Data retrieval is the responsibility of subordinates. How to order banner advertising for a conference? Advise the employee that all questions regarding advertising should be resolved with the conference organizers
Solving simple problems Often, employees already have a rough idea of how to solve a simple problem. The seller announces that the gift certificate for 5000 rubles has been used up. Return the work to the seller. Show the letter with the previous order to the printing house and ask to make another order.
Solving complex problems It is important for employees to find their own solutions with the support of their superiors. If they can cope with difficult tasks, they will be able to develop professionally. During negotiations, the supplier offers the employee unfavorable contract terms, which forces him to make a quick decision. The employee asks the manager what to do, but the manager does not offer a way out of the situation. Give employees the opportunity to find their own solutions and comment on them. For example, explain why the contract cannot be terminated and clarify how the employee will seek additional conditions from the counterparty.
Problems of interpersonal relationships It is important to remain neutral, look for constructive solutions and not determine who is right and who is wrong. Often this helps to sit down at the negotiating table with the conflicting parties and take control of the dialogue. The sales manager suggested that the marketer start trading in a new market and promised to fill out the card himself. The marketer refuses the idea, fearing that he will lose his job. Disputes arise. Consult with your marketing and sales manager to determine how your first professional can help with this task.
In any circumstances involving reverse delegation, it is important to emphasize that employees must be accountable for the completion of their tasks and to return that accountability to them.
Distribute tasks according to the competence of employees . If you have an experienced specialist in front of you, assign him complex tasks, for average-level performers choose simpler tasks. Find something for everyone according to his abilities.
Delegate gradually . Don't overload the employee with too many tasks at once.
Assign responsibility for completing the betting email list task . It should not be that the newbie works on the task, and someone else bears responsibility for it. The opposite approach increases motivation and self-confidence. After all, if not him, then who?
Clearly state the expected outcome . Make sure you are understood correctly.
Discuss the work together . Don't avoid communicating with your team, this is an important aspect of delegation.
However, do not overdo it with control . Do not demand constant reports. Let the employee feel responsible. If questions arise, he will always be able to ask for clarification.
What problems can you encounter in practice?
When a manager decides to delegate some of his/her responsibilities to a subordinate, he/she may encounter various obstacles. This may manifest itself in the form of reverse delegation from employees, excessive control by the manager, and repeated handovers. These problems sometimes arise regardless of how well the task was formulated and may be related to the human aspect.
Read also!
"How to increase the flow of customers by choosing the right method"
Read more
Reverse delegation
An employee approaches his boss with a request to perform a specific action that is necessary to move the work forward. For example, he needs to order an advertising stand for an upcoming conference.
Reverse delegation
Source: shutterstock.com
Typically, conference organizers publish requirements for advertising materials, but the employee still goes to the manager to clarify what size the stand should be. At this stage, the task is stopped. If the manager starts looking for information about the banner size on his own, he is effectively returning responsibility for the task that he had previously delegated to his subordinate.
There are four areas where difficulties most often arise with reverse delegation.
Reverse Delegation Scope How to return responsibility to subordinates Example of a typical situation Example of a solution to the situation
Information and its search Provide useful sources of information, but do not provide direct answers to questions. Data retrieval is the responsibility of subordinates. How to order banner advertising for a conference? Advise the employee that all questions regarding advertising should be resolved with the conference organizers
Solving simple problems Often, employees already have a rough idea of how to solve a simple problem. The seller announces that the gift certificate for 5000 rubles has been used up. Return the work to the seller. Show the letter with the previous order to the printing house and ask to make another order.
Solving complex problems It is important for employees to find their own solutions with the support of their superiors. If they can cope with difficult tasks, they will be able to develop professionally. During negotiations, the supplier offers the employee unfavorable contract terms, which forces him to make a quick decision. The employee asks the manager what to do, but the manager does not offer a way out of the situation. Give employees the opportunity to find their own solutions and comment on them. For example, explain why the contract cannot be terminated and clarify how the employee will seek additional conditions from the counterparty.
Problems of interpersonal relationships It is important to remain neutral, look for constructive solutions and not determine who is right and who is wrong. Often this helps to sit down at the negotiating table with the conflicting parties and take control of the dialogue. The sales manager suggested that the marketer start trading in a new market and promised to fill out the card himself. The marketer refuses the idea, fearing that he will lose his job. Disputes arise. Consult with your marketing and sales manager to determine how your first professional can help with this task.
In any circumstances involving reverse delegation, it is important to emphasize that employees must be accountable for the completion of their tasks and to return that accountability to them.