Delegation – Developing or Dumping?

By Amy L Shoemaker, President and Owner of Amy L Shoemaker Partnerships, LLC and CWCC Member

I have met some incredibly bright and talented leaders.  When the topic of “delegation” comes up, they grimace and comment that they need to get better at that!

This is a 3 part blog on Delegation Tips for Success – What to Delegate, How to Effectively Delegate and Delegating the Task and the Authority.

What to Delegate

All of us have items on our desk which we should delegate.

1. Let’s start with that procrastination stack, which is usually on your credenza, on the floor, or hidden in a drawer. If you were motivated to complete it, the project utilized your strengths and you were the best person to complete it – You Would Have Done It by Now!  Let’s accept that you’re not the best person to complete it and delegate the task to someone else who is a better fit.  You may have been the best person at one point in your career – however are you the best person today?
2. Other items you should delegate include repetitive routine tasks or decisions for you which could be a development opportunity for new employees on your team.
3. Delegating projects that cross train your employees to increase flexibility of the workload and your team’s coverage when absences occur.
4. Delegate opportunities to use and reinforce creative talents on your team which could add value to the project.
5. When you are more concerned that something gets done and less concerned with how it gets done, consider delegating it. Then ask yourself – is it wrong or is it different?  If there is more than one “right” way to complete a task, this is a great task to delegate and let your employees learn from completing the new responsibility.

Please take a few minutes to identify at least 3 projects or items on your desk today which could be delegated.

If you are interested in learning more about what skills are needed to advance your career, take a look at the Corporate Executive Leadership Academy offered at the Colorado Women’s Chamber.

 

About Amy L. Shoemaker, PHR, SHRM-CP, CMC, EMBA
Amy Shoemaker utilizes more than 25 years of business experience in human resources and training to provide strategic human resource consulting, executive coaching and leadership development, and merger and acquisition leadership integration.  She uses her 18 years experience as a vice president and strategic HR leader in entrepreneurial mid-size, and Fortune 500 corporations to exceed her clients’ expectations.  Amy develops future leaders by serving as adjunct faculty and content adviser for the Master’s in Strategic Human Resources program at The University of Denver.  She is adjunct faculty for Colorado State University’s Veterinary Management Institute and Beverage Business Institute.

Education and Certifications

• Wichita State University, Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business, Human Resources Executive Program
• Cornell University – Diversity Course Employer Adviser
• HR Certification Institute, Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
• Behavioral Coaching Institution, Certified Master Coach (CMC)
• CPI 260 Leadership Assessment, Certified Practitioner
• Emergenetics International, Certified Associate
• Thomas Killman Instrument – Conflict Resolution Style

Professional Associations and Civic Groups

• Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Facilitator/Founder Corporate Leadership Academy
• Mile High SHRM Chapter, Board of Directors- Professional Development Groups
• Northern Colorado Human Resource Association, Board of Directors, Conference Chair
• Rocky Mountain HR People & Strategy, member

Contact:  amy@shoemakerpartnerships.com;
Office: 303-993-2364;    Mobile: 316-305-7972
Website: ShoemakerPartnerships.com
LinkedIn: Amy L Shoemaker