Skills and training for directors and owners

Key skills for owners: delegation

Delegating involves passing on the responsibility for completing a task or controlling a process in your business. You could find it difficult.

Some business owners and directors fear losing control. Others fear nobody will be able to do a task as well as they can. Some resent the time it takes to train people to take over, and some insist they want to remain in touch.

Effective delegation, however, makes good business sense because it:

• frees you up for forward and innovative business thinking
• ensures your team's potential is maximised

How to delegate

Write a list of everything you do. Ask yourself whether it is essential you do all these tasks. Could your time be better spent? Could others be trained to take over? Might others even be better suited to the task than you?

Delegate if it will prove more cost-effective to do so.

Remember though:

• Training can take time. Don't expect to reap dividends immediately.
• Others may do things differently to you - but their way could be better.
• Your team members should feel supported and have their work reviewed. However, overbearing supervision can prove counter-productive.
• Good communication makes good delegation.
• Delegation might be best achieved through outsourcing.

Remember that you remain ultimately responsible for delegated tasks. You cannot delegate control of your team or your final responsibility for its success or failure.

Above all, you cannot delegate your responsibility for the direction in which your business is heading.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• The core skills all businesses require
• New skills required by growing businesses
• Key skills for owners: strategy
• Key skills for owners: delegation
• Key skills for owners: building a management team
• Key skills for owners: managing your team
• Skills and training for company directors
• Sources of leadership training
• Here's how management training improved our business

 

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