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​Sometimes we take on more tasks than we can successfully complete. When this happens, it’s a good idea to delegate tasks if you can.

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Here are some tips to take away the stress and help you delegate tasks successfully.

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Take time to prepare

Look over the tasks you have and decide what could be completed by someone else, and what can only be completed by you. Some tasks may be sensitive or critical to the business, so they have to be done by yourself.

Once you know what tasks you can delegate, consider when you need it by and keep in mind that there might be a bit of back and forth, or some errors may need to be fixed at the end. Choose someone who you’re confident will be able to tackle the task successfully and will enjoy the extra responsibility. Before asking them, make sure they have the capacity to take on the task.

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Communicate clearly

Organise a time to take them through the task. Face-to-face or via video usually works better as it allows them to ask questions and to ensure clarity. It also allows you to show them what to do if the task involves a program or feature they’ve never used before. Following this up with an email that includes the process or steps and the timeline as it will help keep the communication open and clear.

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Don’t micromanage

Check in? Yes. Watch their every move? No. You don’t want to send the message that you don’t trust your team. If someone thinks you’re overbearing, it may lead them not to accept future tasks you want to delegate. Instead, check-in sparingly and encourage them to ask questions throughout the process if needed. When you do check-in, it should just be to make sure they’re on the right track.

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Be patient

It’s unlikely that the task will be competed to your standard straight away. Spending time to review and give feedback will help them know what to do next time.

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Delegating is necessary at times, and with these tips, hopefully you’ll be able to successfully delegate tasks to your colleagues.