Being a leader isn’t about controlling everything or telling others what to do. True leadership is about knowing how to delegate tasks and empower others. That’s why developing leadership skills at every level is crucial for your organisation.
In this article, we’ll cover the implications of delegation in leadership. Read on to learn:
- What delegation really means;
- Why it’s so important for leaders;
- How to delegate tasks effectively; and
- What best practices for task delegation to implement.
Ready? Let’s dive right in!
Understanding Task Delegation in Leadership
Did you know that 82% of leaders report feeling tired and burned out? As such, it’s important to delegate tasks effectively. Take it from Superstaff highlighting the power of delegation:
- CEOs considered ‘high delegators’ see up to 1,751% company growth and 33% higher revenue.
- Effective delegation boosts employee productivity and reduces turnover by 18%, respectively.
Simply put, delegation entails transferring tasks from one person to another. In leadership, it involves assigning tasks to capable people or departments. While it might seem pretty straightforward, delegation can actually be complex—you need a strategic approach!
For example, if you’re the CEO of a SaaS company, you’re likely focused on developing software, gaining clients, and growing your business. Instead of managing every aspect, delegate key tasks: IT support for software development, sales for product promotion, and marketing for client engagement. This lets you focus on what matters most—growing the business!
Jeffrey Zhou, CEO and Founder of Fig Loans, has his fair share of lessons on leadership delegation. He shares why some leaders hesitate to delegate:
- Loss of control: Leaders fear losing oversight when they delegate.
- Fear of burdening others: Some don’t want to overwhelm their team.
- Lack of trust: They worry that others won’t meet their standards.
However, Zhou argues, “When starting our finance company by offering payday loans, I wanted to take control of almost everything. But over time, I’ve learned to delegate tasks to focus on more strategic and profit-oriented initiatives. Working with competent people and putting your confidence in them is key to an effective task delegation.”
Discover the importance of delegation in leadership in the next section.
Why Delegation Is Important for Leaders
Delegation is key to building a successful organisation. When you delegate tasks, you not only grow as a leader but also empower your team. In the end, it sets the stage for business growth and success.
Learn from Gary Hemming, Owner & Finance Director at ABC Finance, who has managed various finance professionals. “As a leader, delegating tasks is vital to growing a business. It lets you focus on higher-level goals while empowering your team to contribute effectively. Not only does it boost your leadership development, but it also promotes engagement and productivity.”
However, the benefits of task delegation for leaders are multifold. To become a better leader for your team, here’s why you should delegate tasks:
- Stress reduction and burnout prevention: Delegating tasks helps lighten your load, reducing stress and preventing burnout. Trusting competent team members with tasks gives you peace of mind.
- Personal and professional development: Delegation isn’t just about sharing work—it’s about developing your leadership. You’ll learn people management, team collaboration, and conflict resolution, all of which contribute to your growth.
- Boosted morale and increased motivation: Assigning tasks shows you trust your team. This uplifts morale and motivates your employees, which has a lasting impact on the organisation.
- Employee empowerment and satisfaction: By delegating tasks, you empower your team members and make them feel like valued assets. This drives job satisfaction and retention.
- Enhanced collaboration and engagement: Did you know that only 23% of employees are engaged at work? A good leader delegates tasks to boost team cooperation and employee engagement across the board.
- Increased efficiency and productivity: Delegation improves efficiency and productivity by getting everyone involved. When each person handles a task, you avoid delays and increase output.
- Quality output and customer satisfaction: Good leadership results in 20% higher customer satisfaction. When your team works together on shared goals, the quality of work improves, leading to happier customers.
- Informed decision-making strategies: When you delegate, you open the door to valuable insights from your team. Their input helps you make more informed business decisions.
- Continued growth and profitability: Effective delegation improves efficiency, service quality, and customer satisfaction, all leading to increased profits. CEOs who delegate well see 33% higher revenue than those who don’t.
Learn how to perform effective task delegation in the next section.
How To Delegate Tasks as an Effective Leader
Leadership comes in many different forms, but the goal is always the same: To become a truly effective leader. That’s why many invest in developing leadership skills.
In fact, companies and organisations invest in leadership development programs. They aim to achieve the top three goals:
- Enhancing customer experience
- Improving employee engagement and productivity
- Promoting workforce diversity
One key leadership skill is effective delegation. But how do you master it? Here’s how to delegate tasks like a pro:
1. Review your business goals
Every business exists to achieve specific goals, whether boosting brand awareness, generating leads, or increasing sales. To hit those targets, you’ll need a clear list of tasks.
Start by identifying and reviewing your business goals. Then, break them down into SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These will guide the tasks you’ll delegate to your team and help you achieve what matters most for your business.
Take it from Albert Kim, VP of Talent at Checkr. That’s what they do when tackling tons of tasks for background checks. “Defining clear business goals is essential for effective delegation. It gives leaders and teams a clear roadmap to follow and ensures everyone’s efforts align with the bigger picture.”
2. Identify tasks to delegate
Once your SMART goals are set, it’s time to identify the tasks necessary to achieve them. As a leader, collaborate with your team to brainstorm and outline these tasks—this is your first step toward successful delegation.
Learn from Grant Aldrich, Founder of Online Degree. He believes that “The most effective leaders break down big goals into actionable tasks. Identifying what needs to be done makes delegation smoother and ensures that each team member knows their role in reaching the goal.”
For instance, Aldrich’s company offers online courses and certifications. To ensure smooth execution, he outlined essential tasks like designing the curriculum, crafting promotional materials, and onboarding qualified instructors. By breaking these tasks into manageable pieces, he paved the way for effective delegation and seamless project flow.
3. Choose the right person for each task
Now comes the crucial step of assigning tasks. You must match each task with the right person based on their skills and experience.
Ensure your employees’ credentials fit the task requirements and consider the roles and responsibilities outlined in their contracts. For example, assign the creation of training materials to your trainers and let your content writers handle the modules. The right fit ensures the job gets done effectively.
Nora Sudduth, Founder and Owner at Nora Sudduth Coaching, recommends matching tasks with employees for effective delegation. “Delegating effectively means knowing your team’s strengths and aligning their talents with the tasks at hand. It’s how leaders ensure that every project runs smoothly and delivers results.”
4. Monitor and measure the performance
Your work doesn’t stop once tasks get delegated. As a leader, it’s crucial to track employee performance and ensure they’re meeting targets.
Start by setting key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect your company’s goals. Regularly check in on each employee’s progress, conduct evaluations, and generate reports to see how well they’re doing. This not only helps ensure success but also provides valuable insights for improvement.
Reyansh Mestry, Head of Marketing at TopSource Worldwide, highlights the value of performance tracking in task delegation. “As a leader, monitoring performance keeps your team accountable and allows you to make adjustments as needed. It’s all about ensuring steady progress toward your goals.”
5. Improve the performance or celebrate success
Now, it’s time to review your team’s progress. Are your team members hitting their targets and meeting organisational goals?
If not, consider adjusting your strategies. As a leader, it’s important to equip your team with the necessary knowledge and skills by offering support and guidance along the way. Doing so will help them tackle their tasks effectively. And when they succeed, don’t forget to celebrate!
Chris Aubeeluck, Head of Sales and Marketing at Osbornes Law, suggests promoting continuous improvements and celebrating milestones. “Acknowledging success and providing constructive feedback are key to motivating your team. It creates a culture of appreciation and drives everyone toward achieving even more.”
Explore some of the best practices for task delegation in the next section.
Task Delegation Best Practices for Leaders
Leadership is crucial for business success, but only 40% of leaders rate their leadership as “very good” or “excellent.” This number has dropped by 8% since the pandemic, showing that managing a global team is harder than ever.
As such, Roman Zrazhevskiy, Founder and CEO at MIRA Safety, underscores the importance of delegation in leadership. “Delegating tasks is about empowering your team to step up. It’s not about micromanaging but trusting your people to do their jobs well, which strengthens your organisation.”
Delegating tasks is key to improving employee engagement, performance, and overall success. The good news? You can overcome leadership challenges by applying best practices. Here’s how:
- Set clear expectations. Once you assign tasks, explain them in detail and align them with your company’s goals and key results (OKRs) so everyone knows what they’re aiming for.
- Offer training and development. Prepare your team with proper training before delegating tasks, and keep offering development opportunities to ensure continuous growth.
- Provide resources. Ensure your team has everything they need—tools, materials, and training—to succeed in their tasks.
- Keep communication open. After delegating tasks, stay in regular contact with your team. Consistent communication is key to smooth collaboration.
- Promote teamwork. Even with different tasks, the team should work together toward shared goals. This boosts engagement and collaboration.
- Trust and empower. Delegation means trusting your team to do the job. Let them take charge while offering support when needed.
- Create a feedback loop. Ask for employee feedback to understand how they feel about their tasks. This helps you make better decisions and improve your strategies.
- Ensure accountability. Delegation also means making your team accountable for their tasks, which leads to more responsibility.
- Recognise and reward. Celebrating employee performance boosts morale, keeps motivation high, and drives even better results.
- Use modern technology: Invest in tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA) to help your team work smarter, not harder. In fact, 80% of leaders now use AI to make better decisions.
Final Words
Leadership is always evolving, but one thing stays constant: great leaders delegate. Task delegation helps you promote professional growth, boost engagement, improve performance, and drive business success.
To delegate effectively, set goals, assign tasks, track progress, adjust performance, and celebrate success. More importantly, follow the best practices for task delegation shared above. With these practical tips and steps, you’ll be on your way to becoming a great leader.
Master the art of true leadership, and that can ultimately make a difference in your organisation.
Author: Catherine Schwartz – HARO & Content Outreach
Photo credit: StockCake
