Tips to master delegation as a first line manager

As a new or relatively new first line manager, your perspective will most certainly have changed. Areas that were not on your radar before will suddenly come into sharp focus.

Skills gaps have become apparent. Multiple stakeholders need managing. There can be conflict to resolve and tight deadlines to meet.

Profit margins, team engagement and productivity, and time management all become business critical, and your communication style, confidence and presence are suddenly under the microscope.

You may have established relationships with some or all of the team and the various stakeholders already, but now you may have to:

• get buy-in to your team’s work agenda from external stakeholders
• create internal alliances with your peers
• use the authority of your role to resolve issues
• develop and motivate your team.

This can often seem overwhelming, but this is entirely normal, and part of the process of growing into your role and status as a manager.

“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”  Richard Branson

Learning delegation and time management are some of the best ways to resolve short term overwhelm. To help you improve delegation:

• Take the pulse of your teams skill levels. When determining who to delegate to, discuss the scope of the work, check whether they have the skills required to carry it out and the time to carry it out.
• Upskill where necessary. Experienced managers know that investing time at the beginning can pay big dividends in the long term, so check in regularly with your team.
• Give clear instructions. Check that everyone is clear and summarise. Follow up with a bullet pointed email if necessary. Don’t forget to signpost where resources and support can be found.
• Agree interim check-ins, milestones and completion dates. This can help prevent problems down the line, such as project creep and misunderstandings.
• Give praise and de-brief. Take a look at what went well and communicate your thanks and appreciation, evaluate where individual and team performance could have improved and discuss what changes could be implemented going forwards.

Our First Line Management Skills Masterclass expands on this, helping you discover powerful techniques to improve your confidence by using proven management tools to motivate, influence and draw out the best from others.

Meet the trainer

Alison Roberts

Alison has over 30 years’ experience in training, coaching and mentoring, having won three awards working with individuals and global organisations to improve their people and business performance.

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