Managers frequently complain that they have too much to do and too little time in which to do it. Unchecked, this feeling leads to stress and managerial ineffectiveness. In many cases, managers could greatly reduce their stress by practicing a critical management skill – delegation. Delegation is one of the most important management skills. Good delegation saves the time, develops the subordinates, fosters a successor and motivates. Poor delegation will cause frustration, de-motivation and failures to achieve the task or purpose. Although it is easy to recognize the benefits that accrue from delegation, many managers still resist actually doing it – why? This article will identify what delegation is, the common barriers to effective delegation and the solutions to overcome this barriers.
Definition of Delegation: Delegation is assigning responsibility and authority to someone in order to complete a clearly defined and agreed task while you retain ultimate responsibility for its success. Delegation incorporates empowering your teammates through effective supervisor ship, and may be directed in any direction and used in any organization. In business dictionary, delegation is defined as sharing or transfers of authority and the associated responsibility from an employer or superior (who has the right to delegate) to an employee or subordinate.
Common Barriers to Delegation
The most important step for delegation is to recognize the common barriers to delegation. These barriers can come from supervisors (leaders), the team members, or the situation. The following part we will discuss these barriers in order to overcome them and realize the successful delegation.
1. Barriers Related to Supervisor
The biggest barrier to effective delegation often comes from supervisors. They must overcome their anxieties about giving others responsibilities in order to gain the benefits of effective delegation. In general, 6 barriers are related with the