Delegation of authority is a process by which the division and sharing of authority and power to perform duties in an institution. Sharing of work is essential when the workload of managers exceeds their capacity. As such, a system of sharing must be developed. This can be accomplished with the delegation of authority. It is an essential tool in the efficient management of an organisation.
Delegation Promotes Efficiency
One of the critical results of delegation in management is that it promotes efficiency. This is possible as delegation helps in achieving the following three benefits:
· Saving time
· Increasing productivity
· Employing utilisation of labour-saving resources
These factors facilitate the company’s development and growth. This is why effective delegation is a crucial factor in the long-term survival of a company. Once managers have knowledge of the delegation process, they can determine which tasks to delegate to which members of their team.
Moreover, managers learn how to save time. This allows them to prioritise other essential tasks within the firm. This leads to efficient resource management.
Delegation Reduces Work Pressure
The importance of delegation in leadership also pertains to reducing work pressure. A major challenge in any business is to get maximum work done in a limited period of time. This immense workload can be significantly reduced by delegating tasks to the appropriate employees. This way, the managers can avoid a burnout situation.
Delegating even minor tasks to team members can make a massive difference in reducing work pressure. This would make managers free to concentrate on other essential business aspects. So, managers can use their expertise on tasks that may require a high level of skill requirement while smaller or repetitive tasks can be assigned to team members. Reduction of work pressure can radically change the quality of output in organizations.
Delegation Helps Develop Employee Skills
The development of employee skills is yet another result of delegation. Employees devoid of useful or necessary skills would lead to wastage of time. Moreover, they would be responsible for hindering the growth of the business.
For efficient business growth, employees’ skills are of paramount importance. Indeed, their skills are one of the most important driving forces of productivity. So, managers must give their employees sufficient opportunities to develop and grow. This can be effectively achieved by delegating certain roles and responsibilities.
The delegation would build up critical thinking in employees. It would make them more tactically aware than before. Overall, delegation is a great way for establishing a foundation for employees’ personal growth. It is also a way to assume accountability for the various roles they are assigned. This helps in the development of employee skills.
Delegation encourages the Building of Trust
The importance of delegation in leadership can also be understood in terms of rust. Delegation is a way of establishing a platform for open communication. This way, managers can build collaboration and trust with their team members. Employees can freely ask questions without any fear or hesitation. This leads to establishing a trusting environment where employees work together effectively with their peers.
Managers can encourage their team members by delegating duties. This way, they can talk with them and understand their preferences with regard to projects. Employees will feel motivated to ask for valuable learning experiences if they see suitable opportunities. These may be projects in which employees feel they could excel.
Conclusion
Delegation of authority involves dividing and sharing authority and powers to perform tasks among the subordinates. This way, managers can divide their work with their subordinates. The importance of delegation is major in the areas of management and leadership. Delegation promotes and enhances efficiency. It reduces work pressure, helps in the development of employee skills and encourages the building of trust.