I have always been able to delegate to a lot of people. I believe this is mostly because I respect the people I delegate to. they can feel that and respond well.

The best way to delegate is in person. Giving someone a task face-to-face is ideal because you can get a sense of the person you are dealing with. It is about communication which happens better in person. Establishing the bounds of your delegating relationship is important.

When you ask someone to do a job in person, it is best to do it two ways: orally, and in writing. This way you both know what has been said and the expectations are clear from the outset. It is about defining the task and communicating it.

One reason to avoid asking people in email or on the phone is that it feels impersonal. You will be less able to gauge their reaction if you are not in person. Using questions to make sure the goals are understood works.

If you must delegate over the phone or via email, however, be sure that you do it politely. Get feedback from the person to whom you are delegating.

“Ordering” people can have unintended consequences. It is not usually respectful. And when people feel disrespected, they can obey but destructively obey. You want willing eagerness not forced compliance.

I like to do a strengths and weaknesses analysis with my people. It is not surprising that there is often a correlation between those and likes and dislikes and does well and needs help. By using people within their strengths, you can often get major returns.

Sometimes delegation is a long-term investment. Train now and save time later. It pays to make this investment. It is often the only way to solve a time crisis.

It is all in the attitude. Treat people well and they treat you well. A bit of courtesy and respect go a long way.

Feedback is key. Remember, it is all about communication and feedback is a critical part of that loop. Invite it.

One of the most important elements of feedback is saying thank you. Not saying thanks has consequences. Even if they do continue to do the work, they will be resentful or apathetic towards it, and as such, will not do a good job. So remembering to say a quick “Thanks!” is not only courteous, but also important.

Want to find out more about Time Mangement, then visit Jim Estill’s site on how to choose the best Time Management System for your needs.

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