Delegating is not "fire and forget"

Effective delegation requires time, patience, and lots of follow-up

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

As a Chief of Everything (COE), it is important to delegate tasks effectively in order to manage your workload and ensure that everything gets done. However, as I wrote previously, delegation is not a one-time process – it is important to follow up and provide feedback in order to ensure that tasks are being completed as expected and to your satisfaction.

Here are some reasons why setting up a system for follow-up and feedback is essential when delegating tasks as a COE:

  1. It helps to ensure that tasks are being completed as expected: By following up on tasks that you have delegated, you can check in on progress and ensure that they are being completed as expected. This can help identify any issues or challenges that may arise, and allow you to provide guidance or support as needed.

  2. It helps to keep tasks on track: Regular follow-up and feedback can help to keep tasks on track and ensure that they are completed in a timely manner. This can be especially important if there are deadlines or milestones associated with the task.

  3. It provides an opportunity for learning and development: Follow-up and feedback can provide an opportunity for the person you are delegating to to learn and develop their skills. By providing feedback on their work, you can help them identify areas for improvement and support their professional development.

  4. It helps to build trust and credibility: Follow-up and feedback can also help to build trust and credibility with the person you are delegating to. It demonstrates that you are interested in their work and are willing to provide support and guidance as needed.

So, how can you set up a system for follow-up and feedback when delegating tasks as a COE? Here are a few tips:

Establish regular check-ins

Set up regular check-ins with the person you are delegating to in order to discuss progress and address any issues or challenges that may arise. This could be a weekly or biweekly meeting, or more frequent as needed.

Use progress updates

Consider using progress updates or project management tools to track progress on tasks and provide feedback. This can help you stay informed about the status of tasks and provide guidance as needed.

Provide feedback and guidance

Make sure to provide feedback and guidance as needed to help keep tasks on track and support the development of the person you are delegating to. This could include praising their work, providing constructive criticism, or offering suggestions for improvement.

 

By following these tips, you can establish a system for follow-up and feedback that helps ensure that tasks are completed as expected and to your satisfaction. This can help you manage your workload more effectively and build trust and credibility with the people you delegate to.