Creating a Simple and Practical Template
Karlee Dragos
Organizational Psychology Consultant,
Posted on Nov 20, 2024
Effective delegation is a cornerstone of strong leadership, yet many managers find it challenging to confidently entrust tasks to their teams. When a company approached us with this very issue, it was clear that their struggle to delegate was not just a managerial bottleneck but a missed opportunity for team growth, efficiency, and collaboration. Managers were overwhelmed, employees felt underutilized, and key development opportunities were slipping through the cracks. Recognizing the need for a simple yet impactful solution, we collaborated with the company to create a practical Delegation Template that would empower managers to delegate with clarity and trust, while fostering employee autonomy and engagement.
Challenge:
A company approached us with a challenge: their managers were struggling to delegate tasks effectively to their teams. This issue was leading to inefficiencies, missed opportunities for employee development, and managers becoming overwhelmed by tasks they could have delegated. The company’s owner recognized the need for a straightforward tool that managers could use to support their delegation efforts, ensuring tasks were assigned clearly and effectively.
Our Approach:
To address this, we focused on developing a delegation template that was simple, succinct, and easy to use. Our process involved the following steps:
Understanding the Needs:
We started by meeting with the owner and key managers to understand their struggles with delegation. They expressed concerns about ensuring tasks were communicated clearly and equipping employees with the resources and guidance they needed to succeed.
Designing a Template:
Based on these insights, we designed a practical Delegation Template that focused on three essential steps: clarifying outcomes, equipping employees for success, and monitoring progress. We included an example for each step to ensure clarity and ease of use.
Incorporating Feedback:
After developing a draft, we shared the template with the managers for feedback. This step was crucial in ensuring the tool was tailored to their needs and could be seamlessly integrated into their workflows.
Providing Context and Training:
To enhance adoption, we provided a brief guide explaining the purpose of the template and how it could empower employees while lightening the managers’ workload. We also included the following steps within the template:
a) Clarify Outcomes and Give Freedom: Managers are encouraged to clearly communicate the task’s objectives and deadlines but allow team members to determine how to approach the task.
b) Equip for Success: Managers are prompted to provide necessary resources and proactively ask employees what else they need to succeed.
c) Monitor Progress and Offer Feedback: Managers are reminded to check in regularly and provide constructive
feedback to keep tasks on track.
Result:
The Delegation Template became a valuable tool for managers at the company. Its simplicity and clarity empowered them to assign tasks more effectively while promoting employee growth and autonomy. Managers reported feeling more confident in their ability to delegate, leading to increased efficiency and a stronger sense of trust and collaboration within teams. Employees, in turn, felt better supported and appreciated the opportunity to take on more responsibilities.
This case study demonstrates how a tailored, straightforward solution can address a critical challenge, fostering both managerial effectiveness and team development.
Karlee Dragos is an Organizational Psychology Consultant who is passionate about optimizing employee engagement to allow organizations to reach their full potential. She has experience in research, data analysis, and training design. She uses her knowledge of psychological principles and research methods to improve the overall work environment through communication, process evaluation, and leadership development. Karlee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria. She is currently completing a Master of Arts degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Adler University, where her research focuses on the relationship between workplace ostracism and counterproductive work behaviour.