Communication Skills Interpersonal

Program Outline

Delegating tasks and responsibility is a critical managerial skill. In any organization regardless of size, no single manager or supervisor can, or should expect to, personally accomplish every important task. Some tasks must be delegated -- assigned to others who can complete the job. Effective delegation is the ability to understand organizational goals and how to best utilize each individual's skills and talents to achieve these goals. It can (1) improve the results you achieve through others and (2) dramatically increase your own effectiveness.

Your ability to effectively delegate can increase motivation, confidence, and professional and personal growth in subordinates, while allowing you to focus on top-level duties. In this training program, you will learn how to use delegation to transmit any project or plan to all levels of staff and to ensure that individuals function at their full potential. Learn what delegation is, and isn't, and understand why, what, and to whom you should delegate. You will also be able to recognize the symptoms of under- or mis-delegation of responsibility. The delegation strategies outlined in this program will help you to create and maintain a more effective and smoother-running work environment.

Objectives

• Understand the benefits of delegation for both yourself and your organization.
• Explain the basic methods involved in successful delegation.
• Learn what to delegate to whom and why.
• Examine obstacles to effective delegation in your staff and yourself.
• Recognize and avoid the "I can do it better myself" and "multi-hat" syndrome.
• Complete self-assessments to determine your delegation style.
• Use two-way communication to improve understanding.
• Create a delegation plan and practice implementing it through individual and group discussions, as well as role-playing.
• Learn the key steps and methods for control during delegation.
• Practice, role-play, problem-solve, and discuss.
• Translate what you learn into action.

Testimonials

"Mr. Schwartz had an excellent knowledge of the topic. As a result, I am able to delegate and communicate much more effectively."
Ronald Klinesmith, Shift Supervisor Lincoln Sheriff's Department

"I learned more than how to become an effective manager; I learned to become an effective leader."
Gretchen Clark, Management Specialist Metro Forms Systems

"The subject on delegating was particularly helpful, a strong subject. Reversing roles, two way communications, and the delegation of authority (not responsibility) were valuable learning tools."
Cathleen Dolliver, Supervisor Stratus Computer

BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE DELEGATION

1) Freeing management from routine and repetitive functions. Managers are most cost effective when directing their energies to those top-level duties for which they were hired and are being paid - setting objectives, developing policies, and measuring results. 2) Increasing motivation, confidence, and personal as well as professional growth in others. On-the-job-training challenges employees to evaluate risks, make decisions, and handle conflicts and prepare them for promotion, facilitating company growth. Effective delegation also heightens interest in the company and instills pride by demonstrating the manager’s faith in their abilities.

WHY DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY?

Delegating responsibility insures that the work is done by the right person. No manager, regardless of his or her competence, can adequately perform each departmental function as well as the person who does it on a daily basis. Many have not worked their way up through the company and are highly unlikely to have handled all aspects of a process while doing so. Additionally, they would hardly have been promoted to a managerial position without a belief that their talents could be put to use elsewhere. Effective delegation ensures that each task is performed at the lowest appropriate level.

BEING A GOOD DELEGATOR

Effective delegation is the strongest productivity improvement tool management can utilize. Since, delegation can be mismanaged, however, it is important for a manager to clearly understand why, what, and to whom he or she should delegate before attempting to do so.