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When done right, delegation allows leaders to focus on critical business areas like strategy and vision. However, many leaders hesitate to delegate because they believe, "I can do it quicker and better myself." While this might sometimes be true, ineffective delegation often leads to frustration. On the other hand, proper delegation can significantly benefit business leaders.
So, what are the real pros and cons of delegation? Before we dive into our top tips on how to delegate, here's what you need to know about delegation and why it's important for your business to thrive.
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What is delegation?
Delegation involves transferring the responsibility for a task to someone else. Business leaders often use this to scale their businesses, develop team members, and free up their time.
Delegation Examples
Here are a few examples of what delegation might look like:
- Assigning Project Management Tasks: Delegating the management of a specific project to a trusted team member allows the leader to focus on overarching strategic initiatives. For example, if a manufacturing company's MD delegates the project management of a new product line, it allows them to oversee the broader strategic vision of the company.
- Client Communication: In an interior design company, the MD might delegate routine client communications to a senior designer, freeing up their time to focus on business expansion and creative direction.
- Financial Oversight: A business owner might delegate financial tasks, such as budgeting and financial reporting, to a qualified team member or hire a financial manager. This enables the leader to concentrate on growth strategies and innovation.
Why is delegation important?
Delegation is more than just a management technique; it’s a strategic 'must' if you want your business to grow. According to Gallup, only 25% of entrepreneurs excel at delegating, but those who do see remarkable benefits such as higher growth rates, increased revenue, and improved job creation.
The benefits of delegation
Here are four key benefits of delegating...
1. It can save time for everyone
As a leader of a growing business, you know you’re spinning too many plates. Sharing your responsibilities will relieve the pressure and allow you to focus on achieving your personal and company visions.
We know that most leaders love spending more time with their friends and families or investing in their overall business strategy. By entrusting work to others and investing the time to train staff in the short term, we have seen leaders gain time in the long term. However, it’s probably not a great strategy to only delegate to save your own time alone.
By doing this correctly, you begin to collaborate with others so you can all find the most efficient way of doing something, increasing productivity and satisfaction for everyone.
2. Growing team and business
A massive benefit of delegating is growing a team in numbers and employee skills.
By sharing the load of responsibilities, you’re investing in your team’s careers. It also means you won't waste time, leading to increased productivity and business output. This can lead to increased profit margins, better recruitment opportunities, higher staff retention rates and growing product lines.
3. Fulfilling your job role
As a managing director or CEO of a business, you should do the stuff only the CEO can do. Once you start management delegating, this becomes a reality. This means you’ll be less frustrated with the notion of “not doing what you should be doing.”
You’ll be able to focus on building a workable and successful business strategy, making it more likely that you’ll reach your goals and aspirations and take your business to a higher level.
4. Stronger business continuity
It’s always a humbling question. How would your business fare if you suddenly weren’t around? This brings us to another benefit - a more robust business continuity model. By delegating as many tasks as possible within the business, your team and stakeholders would likely be able to run the business without you. This also applies when you look to exit your business, and it means that you are safeguarding your company's future with delegation.
The disadvantages of delegation
And here are four things to watch out for...
1. Quality of work can suffer
When you are used to completing tasks in a certain way and to a certain standard, it can be hard when that standard is compromised. A big disadvantage of delegation is that quality can suffer. This might be the quality of communication with clients, sales pitches, or delivered products.
When you delegate in any capacity, you run the risk that the company’s outputs may not be as strong as before.
2. Lack of employee confidence
Unfortunately, delegation can disadvantage you when the wrong task is assigned to the wrong staff member. Their confidence and morale can often plummet if a staff member is delegated a task beyond their capabilities or knowledge. This can lead to a lack of job satisfaction and increased staff turnover if it isn’t addressed correctly.
3. Potential extra costs for staff training
Coupled with the lack of employee confidence comes the extra costs that may be tied to delegation. If you decide you need to delegate responsibility, but only you have the know-how to take it on, you need to be prepared to invest in staff training so they can learn new skills. This is both a financial and resource consideration.
Working on a tight budget could require additional funds, so you should weigh the pros and cons of delegating a task if costs are involved.
4. It can lead to frustration
As a result of these challenges, you can become increasingly frustrated as a leader. You might wonder, "Why can’t they do it right?” or “Why is it taking them so long?”. This can lead to your lack of focus and demotivation, which is a dangerous game to play as a business leader.
If your morale drops, you can be safe to assume your team's morale will follow. That said, you need to deal with your frustration as a business leader immediately.
Three delegation strategies to try
Now we’ve covered these benefits, we wouldn’t want to leave you without tips on developing practical delegation skills.
1. Learn to let go
Our first and probably most important tip is that leaders must let go. You're limiting your team and your business by holding on to a particular way of doing things.
Learn to embrace the change delegation can bring and see your business thrive. You might even find the task is done better. Read this article from HBR on how leaders can let go without losing control if this is an area you struggle with.
2. Match the right people to the task
As Max Crosby-Browne writes in his tips on delegation, always begin delegating with employees who have demonstrated the ability to think on their feet and are happy to take on the responsibility tied to the task.
3. Provide feedback without taking over
With delegation, you’ve got to find a balance; you don’t want to interfere too much once the responsibility has been passed, but we also wouldn’t recommend taking your foot completely off the gas. Check-in now and again, provide constructive feedback on how staff can improve and allow them to suggest their thoughts and ideas.
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Having worked with thousands of business owners across the UK and supporting them with delegation issues, we know the positive impact it can have. The key to delegation is to make sure you do so thoughtfully and effectively, and you should reap the benefits delegating provides.
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