Although they are often reluctant to admit it, even experienced managers suffer from the fear of delegating tasks. They are worry about questions such as: What if my subordinates do not get the task done? What if they do not do it well? What if I lose control over the way things are done? Nobody can do it better than me. On the other hand, even these managers recognize that they cannot do everything themselves. Therefore they have no alternative but to find a way of minimizing risk while releasing control when delegating tasks.
The following three recommendations on how to overcome the fear of delegation were published on Forbes.com. The author is Elizabeth Grace Saunders, a coach focusing on time management and the author of a successful book called The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success With Less Stress.
Find where you can contribute the most
First, identify what kind of work should take up the majority of your time. These are tasks that really cannot be done by somebody else. These are tasks you do that contribute the most to your team and company. They will probably include strategic thinking, searching for new business opportunities, developing relationships with key people. Everyday team tasks can be managed by your subordinates. If you do not trust them, the fault may be yours. Examine what bothers you about delegating task to your team.
Name your fear
Only when you realize specifically what you are afraid of, can you move on. Use the following points and write down the specific risks you can see in association with them.
If I delegate
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A specific task will not be done.
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A specific task will not be done well.
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I feel bossy.
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I feel that I annoy others.
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I feel that I am losing control.
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The task will not be done as I want it.
If I do not delegate
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I will be stressed.
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I will suffer from sleep deprivation.
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I will suffer from frustration.
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I feel like I will lose the possibility to grow.
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I will lose control.
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I will limit the development of others
Minimize the risks
Look your list of risks and write down how you can minimize each of them if you delegate a particular task to one of your team members. Example:
Perceived risk: The task will not be done.
Minimizing the risk: I will set up a system of a continuous control. We will agree on documenting the progress of the task or schedule regular meetings.
Perceived risk: The task will not be done well.
Minimizing the risk: I will agree with the employee, performing the task on what my role will be. Depending on the nature of the task, it may be directive, but I may be a coach or only a supporting voice when needed.
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