Delegation

Many activists and leaders find it very difficult to delegate. Delegating lessens your own burdens and at the same time empowers others to do work. Delegating must be learned, developed, used, improved and trusted in order to be effective.

Reasons to Delegate

• Involve others and spread ownership among the group.
• Lessen your own burden.
• Save time for more effective use, important work, and decisions.
• Keep decision making at the lowest possible level.
• Spread skills and experience to others.
• Give activists a purpose for being on the team.
• Help people feel a part of the important things that are going on.

Reasons Why Delegating Is Hard for Activists

• We are loners at heart.
• We are perfectionists.
• We tend to over control.
• It is tough to explain the job.
• We are not trusting.
• "I can do it faster or better or easier…"

How to Delegate

• Review your tasks. Do not delegate what you can eliminate.
• Pick out those tasks which can be done by others. Organize them before turning them over. Be willing to give things up you enjoy.
• Select the people. Consider matching the person to the job.
• Recruit, encourage, and train the person before giving over the job.
• Give a clear description of the job.
• Provide support, check in and be willing to take corrective action while allowing enough latitude for the volunteer to do the job their own way. Evaluate during as well as after the job. Provide rewards.
• Teach the activists to review tasks, pick those that can be done by others, and select the people to do the job.