Delegating work to your team members is a key element of getting things done. So why do so many managers say things like:
These are all common reactions to thinking about delegation. However, when you don't delegate, you risk ending up with too much work to do, not enough time to do it, and lots of unnecessary stress.
On the other hand, when you delegate, you might worry that the job won’t get done properly.
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Take this short quiz to explore how well you delegate. Your answers will show you if you need to improve. If you do, we'll direct you to some great resources that will help you.
How Good Is Your Delegation?
For each statement below, click the button in the column that best describes you.
Choose the answers that reflect you as you are, rather than how you think you should be, and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the "wrong direction."
When you've finished, click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test.
Tip:
You can use proactive delegation as a tool to empower your team. Where possible, include your team members in decisions about the amount and type of work they want to do. Many people are strongly motivated by feelings of purpose and empowerment, and their value to your team will increase accordingly.
There's more on this in our Skillbook "Empowerment and Delegation." (Note that this is a premium resource.)
Who to Delegate To
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(Questions 3, 7, 8, 12)
Tip:
Our premium resource Skillbook Delegation is a great place to practice your delegation skills and apply them to your work right now. It walks you through deciding what tasks you can delegate, to whom, and how to go about it.
Key Points
Delegation doesn't come naturally to most of us. Often, we think that it's easier and safer to do everything ourselves. But this approach can lead to more stress and less time to spend on our highest priorities – and our teams remain undeveloped.
Delegation is an essential time-management and team development strategy. You can't do everything, so decide what you must do yourself and what you can delegate to others.
When you learn to delegate effectively, you'll be rewarded with more time and a more empowered and satisfied team. That's a win–win!
Note:
This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is just one of many that can help you evaluate your abilities in a wide range of important career skills.
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