Spreading your wings of delegation!
Shift from binary delegation to a nuanced approach: 'What's my LEVEL of delegation for this task?' Embrace autonomy and risk management.
"Should I delegate this task or not?"
You might ask yourself this question every now and then when working with a team. I think, this question is limiting. It implies that delegation is just a binary choice:
Option 1: I don't delegate.
Option 2: I delegate.
I don't see it this way.
A better question could be:
"What's my LEVEL of delegation for this task?"
This gives you a whole array of exciting, practical options:
Level 1: I do it - no delegation.
Level 2: I do it - and I show them how.
Level 3: They do it - with my guidance.
Level 4: They do it - with frequent check-ins from me.
Level 5: They do it - with infrequent check-ins from me.
Level 6: They do it - and approach me when needed and tell me when done.
Level 7: They do it - and I don't hear from it again on this task.
It's your good judgment that helps you choose the right level of delegation...one that offers the most autonomy, given the risk involved.
Where do Micro-Managers spend their time? Mostly at levels 1 to 3.
How about Coach-like Leaders? They strive hard to get to Levels 4 to 7 fast.
Hope you enjoyed this little refresher of one of my favorite concepts and that you find ways to apply this in your work!