Delegating effectively: Butteriss on human resources
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Entrepreneurs need to share information, and they need to share tasks. A Royal Trust poll of 400 entrepreneurs in the top 10% of self-employed earners found they work an average of 61 hours a week. Many stated that a“willingness to work more hours than most people” was a very important factor in their success.1But it is more than just hard work.
Delegating becomes more important as a business grows. Unfortunately, given the independence and self-reliance of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives an individual to start and run a business, delegation often doesn’t come naturally to the entrepreneur.
The small business operator must identify his or her own changing role and the need to transfer certain tasks to others.
The following is a checklist of questions charting the process of delegation step by step.
Delegation step by step
Step 1: Preparation
- Analyze the job or the tasks that need to be done
- Decide what to delegate
Step 2: Plan the Delegation
Key results expected
- Time lines
- Standards
- Budget
- Critical interfaces
Step 3: Select the Right Person
- Does the work belong to a particular position?
- Who has the interest and/or ability?
- Who will find the work challenging?
- Who will the assignment stretch and help to grow? Who has been overlooked when you have delegated in the past? Who has the time?
- Who is being prepared for a new assignment or promotion?
Step 4: Communicate the Delegation
- Describe fully the project or task and the expected results
- Agree on standards of performance and timing
- Determine any development or help needed
- Define parameters and resources available
- Agree on amount and frequency of feedback
- Spell out the authority being delegated
- Tell others who is in charge
Step 5: Get Feedback and Provide Support
- Provide support, resources, information
Copyright© 1999 by Margaret Butteriss. All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley& Sons Canada, Inc.
http://www.amazon.ca/Help-Wanted-Complete-Resources-Entrepreneurs/dp/0471643882
References
1Butteriss, M. (1999).Help Wanted: The Complete Guide to Human Resources for Canadian Entrepreneurs.Toronto: John Wiley& Sons. pp.12-13
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