Delegation is the act of assigning tasks and responsibilities to others, usually to subordinates. It is a crucial management skill that reflects the authority and transfer of responsibility for certain tasks. One of the most important responsibilities of a manager or supervisor is delegation, as it helps guide employees smoothly towards achieving their goals and can increase their feelings of success, motivation, and job satisfaction. The WorkPlace Big Five Profile™ can be used to understand an individual’s natural tendency to delegate tasks.
However, delegation is not as simple as just assigning a task. It is a process that involves several stages, such as contracting, planning, supporting, and accounting. Unfortunately, in the real world, some of these stages are often ignored, leading to inadequate delegation and feelings of betrayal and disappointment among employees, which can harm the progress and satisfaction of subordinates.
By understanding one’s self, it is possible to open their eyes to their own delegation and learn about themselves in relation to others. The WorkPlace Big Five Profile™ Leader report can help identify an individual’s natural tendencies and increase awareness of the different stages of delegation. This can ultimately benefit the entire team.
Stages of Delegation
The first stage of delegation: In terms of Contracting/task assignment, our natural way of working is affected by our WorkPlace Big Five results in extraversion (E) and openness to experience (O). The task assignment is considered to have the best natural energy from extraverted (E+) and conservative (O-) individuals. However, if an individual’s natural tendencies do not align with the contracting stage, it is important for them to reflect on how they can improve their approach.
The next three stages of delegation: Planning/planning, Supporting/support, and Accounting/reporting, are just as important to consider one by one. Each stage requires a specific set of skills and abilities, which are influenced by an individual’s personality traits.
So, it is reassuring that by understanding oneself, it is possible for a manager to improve their delegation skills, learn about themselves in relation to others, and adjust their approach accordingly. The Leader report makes it easy to identify areas of improvement, which can ultimately benefit the entire team. By being aware of the different stages of delegation and understanding one’s natural tendencies, managers can make more informed decisions and improve their delegation skills to increase the success and satisfaction of their team members.
