Managers at Bluegrass Dairy and Food offer a few tips on how to delegate effectively.

1. TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE DELEGATION
BLUEGRASS DAIRY AND FOOD

2. NOONEPERSONISCAPABLEOFHOLDINGA
COMPANYUPBYTHEMSELVES.
While a small side business might be well-served with a single
employee, larger companies need tens - if not hundreds - of
employees working in tandem to find success. Thus, all big
businesses need a organizational framework that determines the
chain of command and optimizes the completion of vital tasks
via delegation. The ability to delegate is arguably the most
important tool in a leader's skill set; without it, even experienced
and engaged team members will fall into unproductivity and
resentment. Here, those of us at Bluegrass Dairy and Food
outline a few delegation musts for leaders of all levels.

3. PREPARE A PLAN
Never hand over a spur-of-the-
moment plan. If you hand over a task
that you’ve given little thought to, you
run the risk that the employee will
misinterpret your ideas and
unintentionally botch the intended
result. Every item you delegate should
be well-thought out and - if the person
you plan to give it to is new or less-
experienced - outlined in steps. Take a
moment to assess the clarity of the
task and make sure that the employee
has the tools and information they
need to complete whatever you
delegate to them prior to assignment.

4. SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Clarity is key. An employee should
always know exactly what they need
to do, when they need to have it done
by, and how they should report on
their progress. If the task at hand is
complex or unusual, it may also help
to explain the “why” behind its
assignment by describing both the
overall project and their role in
helping it succeed. .

5. CONFIRM COMMITMENT
Many managers make the mistake of
moving on too quickly after they
assign a task, and leaving the
employee stranded with a project they
aren’t fully equipped to handle. Before
turning to the next task, leaders
should confirm that the employee
they delegate to fully understand the
task at hand and have access to the
tools they need to complete it. Being
open to questions is a must for
fostering good worker-manager
communication and improving overall
performance quality.

6. DON’T MICROMANAGE
Never take a task back after you’ve
assigned it. Some anxious managers
may panic when they see a task go off
the rails, and try to snatch the project
back from an employee. They
rationalize that they know how to
complete the task effectively, so they
should just do it themselves. But this
response is damaging in two ways:
first, it prevents the employee from
learning how to complete the job
themselves; secondly, it limits the time
the manager can spend on finishing
their own to-do list. If something goes
awry, use the misstep as an
opportunity for learning rather than a
time for criticism.

7. RECOGNIZE GOOD
PERFORMANCE
Always recognize good performance.
Even a simple thank-you can go a long
way towards fostering a cheerful and
productive working environment.

8. For more, visit bluegrassdairyandfood.orgTHANK
YOU!