The Golden Rule says treat others like you would like to be treated. Today I want to talk about how this applies when you delegate.
1. You have to care enough to help them be successful. Delegating is so much more than handing off a task or project. The success of the end result is as dependent on you, maybe more so than the other person. When delegating you have to want them to be successful and give them the tools to be so. Of course you want it to work, but too often leaders I work with aren’t willing to take the time and commitment it takes on their part to ensure success. It starts with you wanting this to be successful for them, for their own growth and development and the feel good that comes from success.
2. Define success so they can be successful. Vague or unclear discussions on what you want don’t set someone else up for success. Be specific. What would success look like. What would the end result need to be for you to consider this a home run?What actions would they take, decisions they make, behaviors or thinking would demonstrate success to you. Once you figure this out, tell them.
3. Communicate often. Of course you expect them to let you know if there is a problem or snag, but they won’t always tell you. They may however be more open if you are taking the time to communicate with them, and demonstrate you care and they aren’t out there all by themselves.
4. Care enough to check in. This goes way beyond simply a progress check-in. Ask them what they need. Do they have the right and enough resources? Have they discovered something that will impact the scope or timing Do they need you to run interference for them, remove roadblocks or brainstorm? Care enough to find out what they need, not just how far along they are.
5. Trust others. How they accomplish the task or goal may be different than your approach and does it really matter if the results are there? Give them the flexibility to try out a new idea, change course if necessary and an open door to come to you for help or to discuss a concern.
6. Don’t blame, accuse or assume. I can’t tell you how often I have leaders tell me they were crystal clear about what they wanted and the result was very different, which obviously means the person doesn’t care didn’t listen or both. They could be correct. It could also be they don’t have the capability, or they thought they knew and understood more than they did or it could be you weren’t as crystal clear as you thought. Find out where they went off course.
7. Care, be clear, care and be clear. When someone knows you care about them as a person, not simply feel like they are an object being moved around a chess board they want to succeed and want to make you happy. The clearer you can be outlining not simply what you want but how you are measuring success, the greater the likelihood they can and will achieve this.
Being engaged with whoever you delegate to is as much an ingredient for success as knowledge.
Do you want to learn about your delegation style?
Take our delegation quiz.
Not only will you learn your delegation style, you will begin to understand how your style works towards helping you get what you want, or how it may unintentionally works against you.
© Incedo Group, LLC
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