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Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin Group (a British multinational venture capital conglomerate) said it best, “If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.”
The simple ability to delegate and let go is a valuable quality among leaders. Many entrepreneurs and business leaders attribute their success to the art of leading and delegating. Delegation in business management is instrumental to driving business growth and profitability. Read on to understand the meaning of delegating management and its relevance in today’s world of work.
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What Is Delegating Management?
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The Need For Delegation Styles In Management
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Delegating Management Style In Action
What Is Delegating Management?
Simply put, delegating management style is a management technique that allows managers and team leaders to pass on authority and responsibility to team members. However, this doesn’t mean that managers simply dump tasks on their employees. True delegation styles reflect the proper assignment of responsibilities and trusting them to complete tasks on time while achieving desirable outcomes.
In any workplace, managers and leaders shoulder multiple responsibilities. They’re not only answerable to upper managerial levels but also responsible for guiding and supporting their team. At any given point, there is too much on their plate. It is through delegating management that leaders can trust someone to do the job on time. However, not everyone readily agrees to let go of power and trust someone else with tasks they’re accountable for.
Here are some reasons that hold leaders back from trusting in the power of delegating management:
- The belief that their team can’t do the job as effectively as themselves
- The belief that delegating tasks is a time-consuming activity
- Lack of trust in employees’ commitment and motivation
- The enjoyment that comes from fulfilling tasks on their own
- The guilt associated with giving work to overworked team members
The Need For Delegation Styles In Management
While it may be difficult for you to let go of authority, it’s essential that you trust people with responsibilities. As a leader, you’re responsible for your employee development and delegating management technique provides you with the opportunity. You identify future leaders in the process. Here are some reasons that stress the importance of delegating management:
1. You Achieve More
By delegating, you free yourself of tasks to a great extent. While you’re still accountable for the projects, you get more time to focus on more important responsibilities. This even helps your employees get exposed to new and demanding projects and duties.
2. You Establish Trust
By shifting away from the ‘I’ll do it myself” mindset, you start trusting your employees with this management technique. By doing so, employees feel motivated and their productivity increases. You establish a thriving culture of trust among team members, which boosts their morale and efficiency.
3. You Improve Flexibility
By handing over responsibilities, your team feels challenged. They utilize existing skills and knowledge in new ways. This further increases their loyalty toward you and the organization. The more flexibility employees have while going about their responsibilities, the more likely they are to fully utilize their competencies.
Delegating Management Style In Action
The primary task of managers is to ensure that everyone else is doing what they have been assigned, to achieve overall goals and missions. For effective delegation in business management, here are some simple yet effective tips that can help you delegate properly:
- Not everything can be delegated. Make sure that you’re aware of the tasks and projects that can involve other employees. Some projects may be confidential and can’t involve additional participation.
- Every team member has a unique learning and working style. They have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. If you want them to achieve their true potential, it’s important to help them leverage their strengths and overcome their weaknesses.
- Delegating goes beyond handing responsibilities to someone and trusting them to finish the task. You need to establish proper context and tie it with organizational goals. The more clarity you provide about the tasks or projects, the easier it is for employees to be efficient and complete them in a timely manner.
If you want to look out for your team and be the most effective leader your employees have seen, you need to take a moment to understand your team first. By gauging their needs, expectations, skills and expertise, you can fully utilize their potential and competencies. Try Harappa’s Managing Teamwork course for collaborating and understanding people with different working styles using emotional intelligence. The frameworks will help you in tapping into various skills of team members while encouraging open dialogue and discussion. Start your free trial to be the most effective leader in your organization!
Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as What is Delegation Of Authority, Principles Of Delegation, Types Of Delegation In Management and Process Of Delegation Of Authority to build strong professional networks.
