Entrusting members of your team with big responsibilities creates an atmosphere of high pressure but even higher reward. When people feel that they are building something worthwhile, especially while shoulder-to-shoulder with their peers, it instills them with a deep, powerful sense of belonging and validation. These kinds of exercises will go far beyond what typical team-building workshops could toward building a legitimate foundation for an integrated workforce capable of operating efficiently at the highest level. Employees that are continually challenged are more engaged because they feel as if they're advancing their own professional development. More importantly, they are, and soon new star players will be ready to join the management team.
Take these steps to integrate delegation into your daily operation with maximum results:
Provide reference material. A basic set of instructions that details how to perform the task you are handing off goes a long way in minimizing any negative outcome. Knowing that they have something they can instantly refer to for step-by-step information will alleviate some of the pressure they will naturally feel from taking on something with which they are unfamiliar, and it will reduce the amount of time spent going back over the information again in person. The text can be in the form of a physical manual or a digital database, just as long as they can access it on their own.
Give context to the task. If you illustrate just how the task fits into the bigger picture, you are demonstrating its importance. Providing them with a clear concept of the purpose of the work will motivate them to carry the task through to completion.
Don't be afraid to overshare. When you do choose to delegate a task to the appropriate individual, it doesn't hurt to be exhaustive in your explanation of its inner workings. As an expert on the subject with years of experience, there are undoubtedly countless nuances that you have come to take for granted just by having completed the task so many times. It's better to go overboard when unloading the information so that you are sure not to miss the finer points.
Know when to let go. While many approach delegation with the mindset of that familiar old proverb, “If you want something done right, you must do it yourself,” it is often not the case. There's no need to stress that the work isn't getting done if you retain some measure of control by simply checking up periodically. When done right, the act of delegation will serve two purposes: with monitoring and guidance, the task will be accomplished, while at the same time providing an experience from which individuals on your team can grow.