Delegate some tasks to staff

One of the many facets of being a good manager involves effective delegating. How well you delegate dictates success or failure. You must use diplomacy, straight thinking and an eye for the best-qualified person to do the job when making your decision.

This process can be make easier by using the following methods:

• The primary key is to work closely with your staff. To achieve company success, they have to be properly taught and informed. It is your responsibility as a manager to inform the staff leader of the framework of the project. He or she may not be aware of company policy or office politics that may interfere with the completion of a project.
• By clarifying to the staff from the beginning what is to be done, you can alleviate any confusion that may occur in the middle of the project.

  It is important to have intermittent meetings as the project progresses, perhaps every couple days, to make sure they are still on track. Although you may want to absolve all responsibility on your part, that will almost guarantee failure. Don’t cut the anchor line and let them drift. Use these meetings to give any tips you may have to help them with effective shortcuts, as well as to solicit questions and more feedback. Give them all the tools they need to be successful.

• By keeping close watch, you can look for any signs of uncertainty, incompetence or indecision. Every employee performs at a different level; it’s up to you to keep an eye on your players to make sure they are on track.
• If mini-deadlines aren’t being met, study your people to detect the weak spot. Then reassign or add a helper. That doesn’t mean he is a lousy worker, it just means that his strong points are in other areas of the job.
• It is the project leader’s job to communicate with you and keep you informed of the project’s progress on a regular basis. This will profit everyone. Increased productivity is the result of good, insightful delegating. You can make it work for you.