Task dumping isn’t real delegation

Tasks are one-off jobs which, transferred from you to someone else (your “delegatee”), frees up some of your time and effort, for a bit.

It’s a good place to start, and will let you both practise the arts of delegation, which include feedback and systems thinking. But it’s only entry-level delegation.

The freedom it gives you is limited. The task will be done, but then what? You have find another task. The supervision cycle is short, and the stop-start nature of serial task dumping actually loads you up with more responsibilities.

The growth opportunities for your delegatee are limited, too. It’s bitty and fragmented.

Think bigger: delegate an outcome.

What do I mean? A task would be, “I’d like you to organise this year’s client hospitality day.”

An outcome would be, “I’d like you to increase customers’ repeat business from 50% to 75% in the next eight months.”

With that outcome delegated, you’re free to turn your mind to other big issues, and the delegatee has a chance to grow serious new capabilities.