As a manager, one advantage of delegating is saving time and money by maximizing my resources. Taking a large task, breaking it into smaller tasks and then delegating can get the task done much faster. Delegating is not just assigning an associate a task, it’s an opportunity to train and learn for both myself and my associates.
A disadvantage is delegating and not following up. I spent 15 hours or more correcting inventory paperwork after I delegated this task to who I thought was my most seasoned manager. I assumed she knew the process because she had been with the company longer me. Because I did not follow up, time and resources were wasted.
Like me, many managers choose not to delegate because of trust. Trusting that the person will complete the task in a timely manner and to standard. Also, I had the “Superwoman” mentality. Because I am a workaholic, I tried to do it all myself. It was easier and faster to do a task myself then to explain what needed to be done. But when my eyelashes started to turn gray from the stress and pressure of tying to do it all, I had to step back and look at the bigger picture. I started by delegating small tasks to my manager and life at work became less stressful.
My experiences with delegating have all been good. My day starts with delegating and ends with follower up, both at home and work. I have learned to inspect what I expect. And no one can do it all.