Most are familiar with the concept of “compounding interest.” If you invest a little over a long period of time, the interest compounds, essentially growing larger with each small deposit.
If you want to compound your results at work, you must identify your delegation partners. Doing so is an art form. Posts like Prioritizing Like a Pro, Delegating Like a Pro, and Sharpening Your Delegation Saw, offer tactical strategies, but this post focuses on how to delegate more activities to more people.
Surprisingly, you don’t need direct reports to compound your delegation results. You do need to think outside the box and consider possible delegation partners.
Once you’ve clearly defined what you want help with, the next step is selecting the best person for the job.
If you are a manager, you have obvious direct reports. However, they are not your only available option. You can delegate in all directions. Before you get too excited about delegating to your manager, however, you might want to read the Managing Monkeys blog.
Let’s explore the most appropriate delegation options and activities.
Direct Reports:
- Routine work with moderate priorities.
- Jobs that appeal to employees with the right skills and motivation.
- Representation at meetings or committees when your presence isn’t vital.
Interns/Admins:
- Routine work (especially weekly, monthly, or annual activities with low priorities).
- Research and information collection.
- Assembly of materials, preparation of meeting spaces, organizing events and invitations.
- Proofing and reviewing of materials (if appropriate).
Vendors/External Partners:
- Projects they have expertise in and can do better, faster, or more cost-effectively.
Peers:
- Tasks that require special talent and knowledge that others don’t possess.
- Attendance at meetings where your presence isn’t vital.
- Assistance with special projects in exchange for future reciprocity.
Manager:
- Final reviews of important documents and reports.
- Specific parts of the screening and hiring process.
- Follow up with important clients on crucial issues/complaints.
- Removing unique obstacles to closing a deal or completing a project.*
*Before getting too excited delegating to your boss, consider reading C-Level Catnip to learn the dos and don’ts of delegating up.
If you want to compound your results, a delegation partner is the answer. Consider offering a peer your special talents to help them save time and compound their results.
