Delegation - What Is Delegation? Concepts and Scope of Delegating (Human Resources)

What is delegation? What are the concepts and scope of delegating in Human Resources Management?

Delegation means assigning an authority and task to another person, normally from a superior to a subordinate for some specific tasks to be carried out.

Oftentimes in an organization, it becomes impossible for one individual to handle all the tasks on his own, so having some activities done by other member of the organization becomes necessary.

There is a limit to the number of tasks a certain individual can handle. Once this limit has been crossed, authority or responsibility has to be delegated to subordinates.

However, the individual who delegated the tasks remains accountable for the consequences and outcome of the task which has been delegated. This is what delegation is all about.

What is Delegation of Authority?

Delegation of authority takes place when a superior passes on to a subordinate the discretion of making decisions. An individual can only delegate the authority that he has, and cannot, by all means, delegate the authority that he does not have.

Delegation is generally good because it saves you time and effort, and at the same time you help build skills as you motivate people whom you delegated the tasks. However, poor delegation can cause frustration on your part and create confusion to the parties involved.

For the delegation process to be effective, the delegate must obtain the resources necessary to complete the delegated task.

Cooperation is required when an upper-level employee shares authority with a lower-level employee.

It is a necessary to provide the delegate the required tools, training and support for the task to be accomplished.

Accountability of the Outcome is Retained in Delegation

While delegating frees you from a certain task by passing it on to other member of the organization, it doesn’t free you from the accountability of the outcome of the delegate’s performance. You still need to retain general control over the task or activity you have given. When you delegate, you share the authority beyond one position or person.

Delegating provides other individuals the confidence to exercise authority while still in the process of completing a given task. One can transfer an authority, but responsibility is not fully transferable because the individual who delegates the task is ultimately held accountable for the outcome.

What is Leveraging in Delegation?

Leveraging the time and work of others does not mean taking advantage of others’ skills. Instead, it means that you prefer to focus on bigger tasks in which you are highly productive and proficient and give to others the tasks that don’t interest you much or the ones that don’t exactly meet your skills. The basic key to leveraging others is to assist them to gradually achieve success by acquiring enough knowledge of the task you give them. When those individuals attain success, so will you.

How To Start Leveraging

To start leveraging, focus on efficiency to get the tasks done and make the best use of your own talents while considering the skills of others. Don’t waste your time spending on the tasks wherein you know you don’t really possess the appropriate skills or on things that you are not much interested in. Believing that you can do everything on your own may leave certain tasks not done at all. Leveraging is the ideal way to accomplish some required tasks in this busy world.

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