DELEGATE FOR SUCCESS

How to identify opportunities to delegate work

Many people complain that they have too much to do and too little time to do it. If these feelings continue people can feel ineffective and are subject to stress. However, many people do not feel happy with the idea of delegation.

One reason is that they think they are the only person who can do the job and that it would take too long to explain to someone how to do something. Here are seven tips to help you identify opportunities to delegate – and to make your life simpler!

1. Identify Tasks.
Identify repetitive tasks or routine tasks that can be done by someone other than yourself.

2. Set Clear Goals and Objectives.
Before delegating a task ensure that you have a clear idea of what you want from your colleague.

3. Time to Explain.
Take time to explain the task to your colleague. Remember that too much information can be unnecessary and keep to basic facts and data.

4. Be Enthusiastic.
When delegating to someone, be sure to tell them that you are keen for them to do the delegated work - you are not ‘dumping’ work on them!

5. Check Progress.
This will depend on the task you have delegated. If the work is not urgent then the work can be checked at regular intervals to check progress and monitor or identify problems.

6. Discuss Problems.
Tackle apprehension. If the person has difficulties doing the delegated task, take time to ensure that the person can explain difficulties and ask for help.

7. Praise.
Finally, remember to praise the completed task. A few kind words of praise can make someone’s day.

complain:  express discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness (se quejan)
too much: a bit much, being excessive or unreasonable (demasiado)
too little: insufficient, not enough (insuficiente)
subject to stress: not exempt from stress (expuestos al estrés)
delegation: pass on work to others (delegar trabajo)
would take too long: would require too many hours (llevaría mucho tiempo)
tasks: jobs, chores (tareas a realizar)
goals: the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve (metas)

objectives: targets, the goals intended to be attained and which are believed to be attainable (objetivos)
colleague: co-worker, fellow worker (colaborador, compañero de trabajo)
keep to basic facts: don't exaggerate details when explaining (mantiene los puntos básicos)
keen for them to do: interested in their cooperation (interesado/a en que hagan)
dumping: throwing away (tirando)
will depend on: will be contingent upon - depend > on (not  depend of ) (dependerá de)
tackle apprehension: accept fearful expectations as a challenge (desafía la aprensión del colaborador)
to praise: to express approval (alentar o estimular con palabras)