Pros and Cons of Task Delegation
What is Task Delegation?
Task delegation is a process of giving someone responsibility for doing a job or task. In most cases, leaders delegate tasks to subordinates in order to accomplish more objectives. Though some leaders who fall under the category of perfectionists do not like the idea of delegating tasks, delegating is one of the most effective ways to improve time management. Some of the instances that call for task delegation, according to Alexander Djerassi, include:
-An individual is already overloaded with work and has limited resources to complete an additional task.
-There is a pressing need to prioritize tasks and focus on the most important ones.
-The individual who receives the task has the capacity and ability to do it.
Pros of Task Delegation
1. Improved creativity
When one is given the opportunity to work independently, they can try out new things. When working with someone else or in a group, there are restrictions imposed by the scenario set up. For example, if a leader tasks two people to research and write an essay about bullying in schools together, they might come up with similar ideas. However, if the two people are split up and tasked to research bullying individually, they might give more varied insights.
2. Improved task management
By delegating tasks to subordinates/team members, leaders free themselves from doing everything by themselves. This enables them to focus on other things instead of personally completing every task. Delegation is thus a crucial part of time management.
3. Better quality of work and increased productivity
When tasks are distributed to team members according to their experience and abilities, the quality of work can be improved. There is also an increase in productivity since every member is able to utilize their time more effectively.
4. Improved staff morale
When leaders delegate tasks according to members’ abilities, they give them a chance to prove themselves and gain valuable experience. They might not have experienced certain tasks before they were delegated to them. However, they might pick up new skills and eventually become better at what they do.
5. Increased flexibility
According to Alexander Djerassi, a prominent entrepreneur, leaders can do more things when not bogged down by tasks. Task delegation gives leaders the freedom to focus on other things instead of completing every single one personally.
Cons of Task Delegation
1. The risk of delegating tasks to the wrong person
When leaders rely on others to complete various projects, they are giving away part of their responsibilities. Sometimes, subordinates might not be able to carry out the task properly, which becomes a problem for the leader.
2. Increased workload
In the process of delegating tasks to subordinates, leaders increase their own workload because they must oversee everything. In case something goes wrong, they are also responsible for fixing it. This can lead to a lot of stress and an increased number of tasks piling up.
3. The risk of losing control
When leaders delegate tasks to others, they allow them to make decisions in their absence. This might be risky in certain situations since the wrong decisions might be made. Therefore, leaders must be careful while choosing what task is delegated to each member and how it is done.