Time management is an essential skill to create a productive and successful workplace, and delegation is one of its many tools. Delegation means entrusting particular tasks to others in order to free up your own time for higher-priority activities. 

It can take some practice to get it right – enrolling in a time management training course can help! It can teach you how to effectively direct resources within your organisation, ultimately saving your team time, effort and money. Read our blog post to learn more about what delegation means in time management. 

How can I delegate with a focus on time management?

Delegation is a key component of effective time management. By learning how to delegate tasks, you can get more done in less time and achieve better results. Through delegation, responsibilities can be assigned to others who have the skills required to help complete the task, thus freeing up your own time for the bigger-picture stuff. However, delegating correctly requires an understanding of what skills are needed for each task and selecting the right person to handle them. 

In time management, delegation means assigning tasks to the team and providing them with guidelines around resources, deadlines and deliverables. Most highly sought-after time management courses cover this important concept. Understanding how to effectively delegate is not only an invaluable tool from a productivity point of view but also aids in developing confidence and trust between teammates while allowing everyone to specialise in those areas they feel most comfortable with.

Delegation strategies for managers

Whether you’re a first-time manager or an experienced veteran, delegation is a key skill. And when you’re managing simultaneous projects and competing priorities in a team, time management becomes a pillar of your delegation strategies. Here are some of our tips for delegating with an emphasis on time management. 

1. Know when to ask for help

As a manager, you have a lot on your plate. The key to freeing up some room and delegating responsibility is to make sure that you know when to ask for help. Before delegating, check in with yourself and do a time audit to figure out when you need help and what your team can do. 

2. Pay attention to strategy

As a manager, you want to make sure that your strategy is solid. You should have a clear plan of action, a strong foundation behind it, and achievable deliverables and deadlines. Your strategy should also take into account the experience and capabilities of each employee, as well as what they are hoping to achieve professionally, so you can ensure they are engaged and focused. Think about how much time each team member needs to complete each task and leave room for errors and feedback. A well-thought-out plan might take up time but will save time and effort in the long run. 

3. Clear communication 

Your plan will only work if it is communicated properly. Make sure your team knows what they have to do, by when and how. You also need to clarify how much autonomy they have and where they need to make decisions independently. By providing your team with the right tools, procedures and support, you save their time and yours.

4. Follow-up 

Regular check-ins are a great way to make sure that your team is on track. As a manager, you can check whether the right tasks are being prioritised or not. You can also follow up on deadlines and provide feedback in a timely manner. Additionally, these conversations can also be a time to check in with your team and discuss any potential roadblocks. Lastly, following up provides the opportunity to establish trust through open communication. 

5. Complete a time management course

Pathways Australia’s courses are a great way of developing your time management and delegation skills. Our time management course will teach you how to analyse and prioritise your workload, how to eliminate distractions at work,  and how to set standards for your team. This course will also provide you with practical tools that can help you every day and is suitable for professionals at all stages of their careers. 

6. Celebrate success 

Celebrating success in the workplace can have a number of positive effects, such as building trust and fostering collaboration. Additionally, taking the time to honour success can help create a valuable sense of motivation. Achievements should be celebrated at the right time to reinforce the idea that everyone’s work contributes to the bigger picture. It allows for individual achievements to be placed into the context of larger goals and encourages employees to prioritise effectively. 

For example, offering a time management course or awarding bonuses for the successful completion of project milestones can help foster meaningful recognition while supporting long-term organisational objectives. 

Good delegation is a move towards transparent and strategic decision-making. Incorporating time management strategies can not only give you an insight into your team’s strengths and weaknesses, but it can also improve your approach to performance and communication. Managers who are good delegators are a strength who can take their organisation closer to its mission. Contact us to find out more about how Pathways Australia can support you with time management courses and management training.