The Art of Delegation

With an ‘always on’ culture and a feeling time is against us, losing an hour this weekend with the clock change will leave us feeling even more time-poor. Here, we take at one of the best time-management skills to leave you feeling a little richer…

Before we begin, let us set out by establishing that delegation is an art. It requires skill, consideration and good leadership to excel at it. If you’re of the opinion that delegation is what you do when you don’t fancy doing the job yourself, this one’s for you…

As you progress through your legal career, you’ll more frequently be expected to be a ‘jack of all trades’. The range and volume of responsibilities that fall under your remit will only move in one direction and if you progress to a managerial role, your ability to delegate will be put under the microscope.

Here’s our three-step guide to mastering this fine art:

Match-make

The first step in effective delegation is knowing your team inside-out. Understanding each person’s strengths and weaknesses then delegating, wherever’s possible, to the person best suited to that role. It may sound obvious, but so often we delegate to the person who just happens to be around when the task comes to mind. Each time you delegate, be certain that you’re passing the task to someone who is as competent and capable as yourself to see it through. If you delegate without proper consideration, you’re setting your team up to fail.

Brief

It’s crucial that you provide all the necessary information – a poor brief will merely lead to a demotivated employee who cannot complete the task to the best of their ability. Moreover, you’ll merely postpone the job on your own to-do list since it will inevitably return to your desk.

Manage

For delegating to be successful, it’s important that your team understands what you do and do not need to know, and when. Will you expect an update at the end of the day, on completion of the task or at the end of the week? Provide a full brief, set expectations and trust your team to deliver – the only way to make sure you are free from unnecessary distractions and able to focus on the bigger picture.