? Take this quiz to discover your delegating style.

? Explore how your methods match up with traditional and new delegating practices.

? Learn how the 5 Delegating Power Principles optimize the use of your time and others' time as well.

Delegating Quiz

When I delegate, I (will):

1. (T F) Assign the tasks to those who have open time in their schedule.

2. (T F) Grant progressively more authority to accomplish the goals as they furnish results.

3. (T F) Provide them with step by step instructions how to accomplish the tasks, based on my personal experience of what works best.

4. (T F) Check in with them often to ensure they are proceeding the right way.

5. (T F) Let them know that future assignments depend upon their not making mistakes, to stimulate their incentive.

If you have answered "True" to the preceding questions, you have learned well from prior generations of taskmasters. However, you may not be happy with your results. All too often, this traditional approach generates frustration and gobbles up time, because it fails to take into consideration 5 important principles:

5 Delegating Power Principles

1. There is enormous variety in people's aptitudes. The more fully you appreciate this, the more likely you are to handpick the person whose strengths match your job at hand.

2. Give the responsibility to meet a goal and the full power needed to bring about the desired result simultaneously, at the beginning. Encourage the person to let you know if they need more authority or support of any kind to get the task completed.

3. What works well for you may not work well for others. Allow your delegates to find their own way. Assign tasks in terms of goals, not methods, and encourage your assistants to call upon their own strengths and creativity to meet your objective.

4. Different people thrive under different levels of supervision. You can cooperatively work out a system of checking in with one another. When you invest time in constructive, consensual review, you will enjoy rich dividends. You and your colleagues will find this much more enjoyable and productive than old-style hovering!

5. By allowing room for mistakes, you allow room for new discoveries. You encourage your support system to do its best when you support some experimenting. When you extend latitude and good will, your assistants will respond with increased confidence, cooperation and loyalty.