Too Much To Do & Not Enough Time To Get It Done; When to Delegate

Do you often find yourself with little time to supervise employees and production due to a long list of tasks that need to be completed “yesterday”?  If so, you’re not alone; one of the most common aches & pains supervisors share is having “too much to do and not enough time in the work day to get it done”.  So, what do you do, leave before the work gets done or stay late and get it done?  Neither.  A successful supervisor looks at what needs to be done, delegates the list of tasks and supervises the work to ensure it gets done.  In fact a common trait Successful Supervisors share is knowing what and when to delegate and what and when to do it themselves.  Most determine their work load by asking themselves the following questions:

1.     Is this an acceptable task to delegate (one that is not mandatory I complete on my own)

2.     Who (besides me) on my team can get the job done?

3.     Am I committed to supporting and supervising the team member I assign to the task?

Answering yes to these three questions before making the decision to delegate is crucial!  You must acknowledge that the task does not have to be completed by you, recognize someone on your team with the skills and capabilities of completing the task and commit to taking full responsibility of the team member’s work through your support and supervision commitment.  Remember, delegating a task does not take your responsibility away from it. 

Answering no to the questions listed above means that assigning the task would violate policy and/or jeopardize your position within the company, there is absolutely no other member on your team with the skills and capabilities needed to complete the task and that you are not committed to fulfilling your job as a supervisor by overseeing and supporting your team member to complete the assignment. 

You’ll find that the more you delegate the more fulfilled your employees become, especially when you begin to task them with more important projects.  As the tasks you delegate are accomplished, you’ll begin to trust your employees more and allow them to grow as they take full ownership of their delegated responsibilities.  Delegating is a win, win situation for all!

Take Action:    Delegate

Keep On: 

Supercharge Employees

Interval Train

 Encourage employees to start at the finish line
Setting the Pace.  Establish a speed and standard for production

Talking:  Communicate at all times; your job is to remind your team what they are working towards

Looking back at what you’ve done; evaluate your progress.

Being Proactive rather than reactive

Communicating the vision, state direction, involve and challenge the team to go for it!   

Acting out and aligning your values with your company values and those of your employees.   Walk the talk.

Delivering the VIP Treatment

Being the Expert Extraordinaire

Giving and continue to establish a good reputation

Copycatting the Successful SUPERvisors of your past

Telling yourself that you’re a Super SUPERvisor!
Believing; remember, you’ve made the conscious decision to lead.