- Giving directions to a subordinate and telling them exactly what to do.
- Assigning someone to compile research, gather feedback, and report back to you so you can make informed decisions.
Good and Bad Delegation examples
Six delegation examples
Depending on the tasks people delegate and their level of trust in the people carrying them out, delegation can take many different forms in a business. Delegation benefits employees and employers more when people trust and empower those to whom they delegate. Here are six examples of delegation to help you better understand how it operates:
Giving thorough directions
The simplest type of delegation is when someone is given very specific instructions. In this form of delegation, the task assigner makes all the decisions, and the task recipient merely executes their instructions. This kind of delegation can take a lot of time because the delegator must spend a lot of time guiding and monitoring the person they have delegated to in every detail. However, it can also be a useful strategy for ensuring that the worker receiving a new task fully comprehends what needs to be done.
Delegating research for decision-making
Some people assign other employees the task of conducting research before making a decision. Another employee conducts in-depth research, then reports back to the person who assigned the task to them on their findings. The delegated party incorporates the research into their ongoing projects. While the researcher has complete control over this task, the outcome is still in the delegated party’s hands.
Delegating with veto rights
Another option is delegating work while holding veto rights. In this instance, a coworker is requested to carry out duties and make decisions on someone else’s behalf. However, they examine the work of others and either endorse it or veto it. With this kind of delegation, it is guaranteed that the original power-holder will remain in charge. This kind of delegation can assist the worker who has been given a new task in learning how to efficiently assign duties to others in the future.
Delegating with intervention rights
Additionally, one may urge workers to carry out business duties while still reserving the right to intervene. This means that another party makes decisions and enacts them. However, the delegate may intervene and change the result. Make sure to provide an explanation if you assign a task to someone and need to change or overturn some of their choices. They gain insight into future decision-making for assigned tasks as a result of this.
Delegating with reporting outcome
Tasks can also be assigned, and the recipient is required to report back on the project’s completion. The person who delegated cedes control and has faith in the recipient to complete the task as they see fit. The work is unchanged while the person who completes it reports back to the person who delegated it to them. This method of delegation fosters employee empowerment and shows trust while preserving communication.
Full delegation
Full delegation requires a complete handover of tasks and decision-making. For those who are given tasks in this manner of delegation, it can be extremely empowering because it demonstrates complete trust in them. Full delegation should only be used when assigning tasks to highly qualified, trustworthy, and competent employees.
Why is delegation important?
For both businesses and their staff, delegation is crucial because it can:
Managers and supervisors delegate most often. But anyone with a certain level of authority can assign work to others. For instance, if a senior software engineer feels their workload is too heavy, they might ask a junior programmer to fix a software bug. Depending on the organizational structure of the workplace, they might require manager or supervisor approval before delegating.
Types of delegation skills
Effective delegation requires the following four skills:
Communication
When they learn what their delegated task is and why it was assigned to them, people rely on verbal communication skills. Utilize your communication skills to respond to any queries the person you’re delegating to may have regarding their task. Additionally, you could decide to convey their assigned duties in writing.
Providing constructive feedback
Many effective forms of delegation call for the delegator to provide feedback after the task is finished. While the person they delegated the task to is working on it, they might also provide feedback. Feedback must be constructive and contain suggestions for the employee’s future performance improvement. If you have to correct any errors, be sure to also highlight the employee’s accomplishments to boost morale.
Training
Delegating often means entrusting someone with unfamiliar duties. When this happens, those who are delegating rely on their capacity for training to impart new knowledge to others. To assist the other person in effectively completing the task, they might provide clear instructions or demonstrate tasks. Additionally, it’s crucial to be patient with your coworker as they learn how to handle their new responsibility.
Time management
To estimate how long tasks should take and set reasonable deadlines for those working on their tasks, those who delegate tasks need to have good time management skills. They may also need to set aside time for training, progress checks, and feedback sessions, depending on their delegation model.
FAQ
What is the best example of delegation?
Delegating to another nurse the duty of caring for a patient who needs a blood transfusion is the best illustration of delegation, according to experts. Delegation is the process of giving a capable nurse control over a particular nursing care task or responsibility.
What is effective delegation explain with example?
When managers or supervisors assign responsibility and authority to perform a task and leave it up to the subordinates to figure out how to do it, this is known as delegation. Effective delegation fosters the growth of individuals who ultimately become more content and productive.
What are the 5 types of delegation?
- Five levels of delegation:
- Level 1: Do exactly what I ask.
- Level 2: Gather information.
- Level 3: Make a recommendation.
- Level 4: Make a decision.
- Level 5: Implement. Make the choice you believe is best, then proceed on your own.
How do you delegate employees examples?
- Know What to Delegate. Not every task can be delegated.
- Play to Your Employees’ Strengths and Goals. …
- Define the Desired Outcome. …
- Provide the Right Resources and Level of Authority. …
- Establish a Clear Communication Channel. …
- Allow for Failure. …
- Be Patient. …
- Deliver (and Ask For) Feedback.
