The Need For Delegation In The Workplace

Delegation according to google is the assignment of authority to another person to carry out specific activities. In the workplace, It is often a process where an employer entrusts a specific task to a team member or team members work for it to be carried out.

Some employers think they are made of steel, they always want to carry out every special task in the workplace, because they feel that no other person is competent enough to handle it. One thing employers must understand is that they cannot perform every task in the workplace because it can lead to work burnout as well as low productivity due to fatigue.

Some managers till date, still have a negative approach toward delegation of duties in the workplace, because they always think that they can do better when they are the ones handling the task.

Any manager who always carries out every given task by himself is either egocentric or has not built the capacity of the team members enough to handle certain tasks. As a leader in the workplace, delegation is very important because it empowers the team members, builds trust, and assists with professional development.

When tasks are delegated to team members, asides from the fact that it reduces the workload, it also builds the capacity of the team members because they will develop new skills and gain knowledge that equips them for future responsibility.

Types of Delegation

There are four (4) types of delegation in the workplace. Each of these delegations is based on different factors.

• Formal or Informal Delegation; It is based on the process of giving authority
• General or Specific Delegation: It is usually used on the job assigned
• Top To Bottom: It is usually based on a hierarchy
• Lateral Delegation: It requires a group or team members to work in parallel

Before delegation is made in the workplace, there are processes employers must ensure to follow, to ensure that they delegate such tasks effectively

• Delegate To The Right Candidate: One major part of being an effective leader in the workplace is understanding the strength and weaknesses of each team member. This is a very important factor to consider because different tasks require that there are specific team members who should carry it out.
• Make Available Resources: It is important that when employers delegate tasks to team members, they should provide them with the required resources needed to effectively carry out their tasks. Resources could be funds, courses, information, tools/equipment, etc. Not providing them with the needed resources can set limitations to how far they can accomplish a task.
• Be Clear About The Task: It is one thing for a manager to delegate a task, it is another thing for them to be clear about the given task. Team members are more likely to provide results based on how the task was related to them. Also setting clear expectations for a given task, aids them in knowing how to execute the task. It is ideal for managers to set benchmarks for every given task, so that team members can know what they are to deliver.
• Take/ Give Feedback: Employers should not just delegate tasks without giving or taking feedback. The most critical aspect of the delegation process is usually the feedback stage. If the team members effectively carried out a given task, it is ideal that managers let them know so that they maintain that standard and also improve. Also, if the task was not effectively carried out, it is ideal that managers give feedback on possible corrections so that they can be implemented in the next task.

There are so many benefits of delegation in the workplace, but I will discuss only three (3) of them.

Benefits Of Delegation In The Workplace

1. Develops Team Members: When the team members are constantly involved in one given task or the other, it develops their capacity as well as teaches them new skills. When they are assigned with a specific task, it challenges them to improve and also pushes them to become a better version of themselves.
2. Establishes Trust: When tasks are delegated to team members, it builds a culture of trust among them. By giving them specific tasks, the manager is indirectly telling them that he trusts them enough to carry out the task efficiently. This also improves employees’ self-esteem.
3. Increases Flexibility Of Team Members: When tasks are delegated to team members, it expands their flexibility which provides room for their abilities to grow, which is beneficial to the organization and also to each team member.

Conclusion

Employers must see the need to delegate tasks in the workplace, because it will no doubt boost productivity, and it will reduce the chances of fatigue and build trust between the manager and team members. Ideally, all hands should be on deck in the workplace because it also gives room for creativity.