Win-win: the result of effective delegation.

Conquer your worries, improve your work/life balance and free up some space in your life for personal/professional growth.

Your plate is full.

Overflowing in fact.

On any given weekend and/or late evening, chances are you can be found in the office, at your desk, working.

Sound familiar?

Have you thought about delegating?

Probably you have.

Delegating enables us to have better work/life balance, to develop others, encourages teamwork, provides a richer array of perspectives on any given project, and, utilizes everyone's skills/talents more efficiently.

So, let's take a look at the reasons why we so often tend not to ask others to contribute in delivering the work we do.

"It won't get done, or it won't get done correctly (a.k.a to my standards)"
"I'll just have to nag until it gets done"
"They are really busy too"
"I don't have help"
"No one else can do it"
"I want to be recognized for my contributions"

These are all perfectly good reasons for not wanting to delegate.

But in this instance, you can "have your cake and eat it too!"

Want a healthy work/life balance? Want your life back? You can delegate, and the work will get done.

And, here's the kicker-you will be a better manager for it!

How to confidently delegate

I've seen it over and over again-a manager drops a folder onto a desk, mumbles a few quick words about getting something done and is off and running, ready to tackle 10 other things demanding his/her attention.

The result?

It doesn't get done, or not correctly, or not the manager's (unspoken) specifications.

This then, only serves to validate the manager's belief that there is no real help available.

Does this sound familiar?

Let's take this example then, and explore how you can confidently delegate, and improve the outcome for all involved!

• It's better to give too much information, than too little.

  Remember, this individual to whom you are delegating may not have been privy to discussions/meetings in which you have been involved. What are the key pieces of information they will need in order to get it done, and done well the first time? Identify those, then share them.

• Are all the pieces to the puzzle available?

  What reports /materials /contacts can help the individual complete the task?

  Are they accessible? Share these resources.

  Also inquire as to whether or not the person to whom you are delegating has the skills/competencies required to successfully accomplish the task.

• Identify a clear timeframe.

  By when do you want to see the deliverable? When identifying a deadline, ensure sufficient time for making adjustments as needed.

• Identify what the actual deliverable should look/feel/be like.

  For example, if you're expecting three pages of a word.doc rather than a one page excel chart, say so. Share your vision of the deliverable.

• As appropriate, delegate to provide a development opportunity for someone else.

  If you do, your boss will not only have "dedicated" on his list of your positive qualities, but be assured "teamplayer" and "great manager" will be there as well.

Coaching and training can help you improve your skills and confidence in managing your workload, as well as in developing others.

Don't be shy about requesting the support you'd like to receive from your employer.

If you need another staff member, because you truly do not have an individual to share the work with, make a case for it and request one.

If you would like to develop these skills, request support from a coach, or find a development program to meet your specific needs.

After all, the quality of your life depends on it!