How to Delegate Work to People

1. Decide what to delegate

List the things or use the activity log to show the tasks that have to be done then decide which could be more effectively done by someone else.

2. Find the right person for the job

Here, assign the job to an inexperienced person. Close supervision is necessary to get a job done to the correct standard. It will take several iterations before the task is completed satisfactorily.

3. Explain the purpose of the job and what you expect

Be specific about what you want done. Be clear as to the purpose of the delegated work and what kind of results you expect. Take the time to answer the person’s questions. This takes less time than redoing work.

4. Make sure resources are available

Give the person the information he/she will need and point them toward other resources he/she may use to complete the work.

5. Set the deadlines for completion

Set a realistic deadline for the delegated work and make sure that this is workable for the delegated person. Set the internal reporting dates when you want information on the progress