Aligning Skills and Tasks for Effective Delegation

You’re covering lunch duty. Fixing the copier. Answering emails at 10pm. And wondering why there’s no time to actually lead. At some point, every principal hits the same wall: You can’t build a great school by doing everything yourself. So how do you start letting go without dropping the ball? Here’s a simple framework I use with leaders who want to delegate while keeping visibility and accountability: 1. Sort it. Is this instructional, strategic, or operational? If it’s not instructional or strategic, are you the best person for it? 2. Name it. What does success look like if you’re not the one doing it? Focus on the outcome, not just the task. 3. Match it. Who on your team can truly own this—not just help with it? Think strengths, not just job titles. 4. Support it. Delegation isn’t “set it and forget it.” Check in. Coach. Stay close to what matters. Finally letting go is the start of doing the job you were chosen to do: Run your school.

The 4 most important #questions to ask yourself if you are to master #DelegatingWELL 1. Why must I delegate! The simple response is, how #far do you think you can walk carrying a load of 100ks on your head? Not far, right? In the same way, if you want to lead for long and not suffer #burnout, you are going to learn to delegate! 2. What should i delegate? This depends but my usual take is; A) #breaking down the task in order of important duties and this then helps me what I should do as a leader, and what I should delegate to others. Sometimes it’s the most important or #delicate part of the assignment. B) Other times I consider what part of the assignment I know #someone else on the team can do a much better job at. Being a leader means getting the best people to do the best job. Not trying to do everything yourself. C) Sometimes I will consider which part of the assignment aligns with #where I am going in life. I have learnt to concentrate my energy on that which is connected with my destiny. This means there are moments I delegate things that fall outside that path but are in line with another’s destiny. D) Things that will take a lot of my time but bring #less results. Sometimes being busy does not mean being productive. Pick your battles well and let others also put in their weight in certain parts of the assignment. E) There are times I will delegate a task to another team #member because I know it will help them grow. Even though I know it’s something I can do, if I realize it will help someone on the team grow, I will sometimes delegate that task. 3. When should I delegate? I am one for delegating #early! And this is for two reasons: A) it brings others in early enough so you can get the task done #faster and B) it helps spread the effort needed to fulfil the task so you do not# burn out. Do not wait to be overwhelmed before you can think of delegating! As soon as you have a clear picture of the assignment and what has to be done, start thinking who should do what! 4. Who do I make sure delegation brings results Keep a #Bird’sEye on everything. This does not mean uncomfortably peeping over people’s shoulders. Set times to #report back on progress from the person/people you have delegated to. That helps to ensure things do not slip through the cracks and that you keep on track in terms of time. Are these things you usually consider? Which of them stands out for you? Cheers 🥂 to building teams that last and win Jose

Most leaders make these delegation mistakes. Do you? Delegation is a crucial skill for a leader. And it’s one that’s easy to mess up. This can harm both productivity and morale. I know because I’ve made every mistake multiple times. After 10+ years leading teams and overcoming my own delegation challenges, Here are the 8 biggest delegation mistakes and how to fix them: 1) Unclear Goals   ↳ Don’t just assign tasks - set SMART goals so expectations are clear   ↳ Clear communication is key to alignment 2) Micromanaging   ↳ Resist the urge to control everything - give autonomy within boundaries   ↳ Trust your team to handle responsibility 3) Mismatched Skills   ↳ Align tasks to strengths - train to fill skill gaps   ↳ Ensure everyone is set up for success 4) Lack of Follow-Up   ↳ Check progress frequently - use tools to track work   ↳ Maintain accountability without hovering 5) Inadequate Support   ↳ Ensure access to all resources needed to succeed   ↳ Provide tools and information to excel 6) Overloading Stars   ↳ Distribute work evenly - rotate responsibilities   ↳ Prevent burnout and maintain engagement 7) Ignoring Feedback   ↳ Encourage input - improve processes through feedback   ↳ Make everyone feel valued and heard 8) No Recognition   ↳ Acknowledge achievements - incentivize great work   ↳ Foster a culture of appreciation Effective delegation requires: - Realistic timelines - Clear communication  - Empowering your team - Developing trust Strategic delegation is crucial for leaders. Avoid these mistakes to build an empowered, productive team! P.S. What delegation challenges have you faced as a leader? Share your lessons learned! — ♻️ Repost to help leaders delegate effectively! ➕ Follow me Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉