The Wisdom in Delegation
"The secret of growth is to fix responsibility and then teach how to carry that responsibility."
Harold B Lee.
It is difficult, if not impossible, for one person to do all work required, be it home, job, community. Delegation allows the leader to share the authority and responsibility for certain tasks with others, holding them accountable for the results to be achieved. A very important part of this is that it provides opportunities for those who fulfill their tasks to grow and learn. It cannot be expected from a working mother to clean, wash, cook meals, help her children with homework or giving them the attention that they so rightfully deserve. That's where fathers have to be given delegated tasks as well as older siblings. Gone are the days that father will come home put his feet up read the newspaper and wait to be served. What he should be doing is put his feet down and perform his delegated chores.
Effective delegation involves 4 steps:
- Assessment and organization.
- Agreement.
- Sustaining.
- Accountability.
Agreement is defined in the dictionary as "the act or fact of agreeing, an arrangement as to a course of action" Agreement should be the foundation of delegation. Disappointment and conflict can be quick to develop when the parties involved, have not reached a clear, meaningful understanding or agreement.
The best steps to take when delegating, is for the leader to determine with the individual involved exactly what is expected of him, leaving no loopholes. This agreement may be formal ( in writing) or informal ( verbal discussions). It needs to answer the following questions : What am I supposed to do? When am I supposed to do it, when do I account for my results? Why am I doing it? Having an understanding of this will avoid conflict.
After an agreement has been reached, the leader has to sustain or support the delegated person, by teaching the correct principles of the task at hand and then let him govern himself. There should be a clear reminder in that those who lead to let, to permit, to give opportunity for them to learn their duty and to be prepared to act in their office according to the appointment.
A dictatorship may be a shortcut to get immediate action, but the longer lasting results come in painstaking instruction and development by giving someone a responsibility that he is not equipped to handle. A leader must recognize that when he delegates responsibility to someone, that the person is able to carry his task and achieve successful results.
Honestly appreciate the individual. However, false flattery does not help growth. A leader should hold a person accountable only for agreed upon results. "Check - point" interviews allow the leader to know the progress of a delegated responsibility without causing the person assigned to feel that someone is constantly looking over his shoulder.
Successful delegation is shown in the results. This can most clearly be seen in a well run home, where everyone is delegated fairly to a chore or more. Happiness will abide in such a home.
Sources : RS courses of study, Own content, Pixabay, Google Images