Time is your most valuable resource as a businessperson - and a seriously finite one! The way one manages their time indicates the difference between…

someone who’s chronically swamped, whose time is always maxed out and who never has time to work on the high-level projects their talents are needed on

and

someone who’s the master of their schedule, makes sure everything gets done efficiently and has the luxury of performing their high-level duties regularly.

Simply stated, strong leaders manage their time efficiently and effectively so that their work time is spent fulfilling their job description’s true purpose. That’s why it’s incumbent upon leaders to find ways to work smarter instead of harder. One of the best tools for making the most of your time is to delegate wisely.

Delegating is entrusting a portion of your responsibilities to a capable other(s). When done prudently, delegating can lead to:

• A lighter overall workload for you combined with enhanced efficiency because delegating tasks that slow you down or take you out of flow keeps you working more smoothly
• Enhanced efficiency of your entire team because tasks are being handled by those who can do them with the greatest facility
• A greater sense of trust and confidence in your team as a whole as you lean on their strengths to get things done more efficiently

Obviously, there’s more to prudent delegation than simply offloading work onto someone else. It matters what you delegate and to whom.

What tasks can/should you delegate?

Choose tasks to delegate that are not your forte; those which take time away from your time to work on those things that are firmly in your "zone of genius;" those that prevent you from dealing with "big picture" thinking.

When should you delegate?

This part is probably the most perplexing thing about deciding to delegate: How can you know that the time has come to delegate some of your tasks to someone else? There are several guidelines, or general rules of thumb with regard to determining when to delegate. Three of them are:

1. The Time Value Rule suggests you determine how much your time is worth, then delegate tasks of lower value to others so that you are spending your time on the tasks of highest value.
2. The 70% Rule states that you should delegate tasks to those who can do the task at least 70% as well as you can. A portion of your time will be freed up, plus you’ll be nurturing the professional growth of those on your team.
3. The 80/20 Rule is based on the premise that 80% of your results is the product of 20% of your effort; determine your 20% that’s most impactful, and delegate the rest of your tasks to others.

To whom should you delegate?

You should have a solid reason for choosing a particular person to whom to delegate tasks. Think about their qualifications and strong suits in relation to the tasks to be delegated. Are they:

• Detail oriented?
• Highly organized?
• Well-suited for working on a tight timeline?
• Cool under pressure?
• Highly diplomatic?
• Adept with technology?
• Good at thinking on their feet?
• A real "idea" person?
• Particularly resourceful?

How to delegate?

Once you’ve chosen your delegate(s), present the added responsibility in a way that recognizes their proclivities and ability to take on the tasks. Express why they were chosen for the job and why you think they will succeed in carrying out the work with great competence. Be certain to explain the task(s) thoroughly and assure them that they have the necessary authority to take on the new responsibility in your stead. Check in regularly to see how it’s going and provide feedback, but remember, once you delegate a task, it’s no longer for you to remain attached to or to manage (unless your delegate isn’t fulfilling the role satisfactorily).

Delegating tasks can help you perform more of your executive function, leading to greater personal and team productivity. Delegating to your team demonstrates your trust in their abilities and your desire for everyone - including yourself - to do the work they’re best suited to perform.

How do you (or do you) delegate tasks in your business?