Chapter Five
- Delegation
Definition of delegation
Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person to carry out specific activities, while the person who delegates the work remains responsible for the results of the delegated work. Delegation is a means to increase productivity, and it also strengthens the skill of the delegated subordinate in making decisions.
- The word “delegate” means that a person entrusts something to another, appoints him as his representative, or entrusts him with responsibility or authority.
- Accordingly, delegation is the process of enabling another person to carry out a task that is originally one of the tasks of the delegated person
- As it is known, delegation is the transfer of authority to a competent person to perform a specific task in a specific situation, while remaining accountable for the results of the delegation on the delegated person .
The importance of delegation :
• The manager is given more time for effective planning .
• The manager is given more time to complete his other administrative tasks.
• Helps reach effective decisions .
• Encourages subordinates to take initiative and exploit their skills
• Develops the skills of subordinates .
• Subordinates gain confidence in themselves and their skills
Proper delegation
Proper delegation in the nursing profession is characterized by five characteristics:
- appropriate task
- Proper posture
- The right person
- Proper communication and guidance
- Appropriate supervision and evaluation.
Delegation steps
- Define the task you will delegate
- Choose the person to whom authorization will be made
- Define tasks
- Reaching an agreement
- Performance monitoring
- Provide feedback.
Effective delegation strategy:
- Advance planning
- Determine the necessary skills and levels
- Choose the person who is the most role model
- Communicate the goal clearly to the authorized person
- Enable the authorized person
- Setting deadlines and monitoring progress
- Provide guidance
- Performance evaluation
- Completion reward
Successful delegation results:
- Facilitating work
- Improve efficiency
- Increase employee effectiveness
- Developing employees' skills
- Ensuring that the work is done by the right person.
Common mistakes in delegation
- Lack of delegation
- Over-delegation
- Inappropriate delegation
Obstacles to delegation:
- A person's belief that no one else can do the work
- Lack of trust in employees
- Lack of self-confidence and lack of sense of security
- Lack of clarity in job description
- Inadequate training
- Lack of adequate recruitment and selection of workers
- The time spent explaining the task
- Unwillingness to bear the risks involved in relying on others
- Fear of losing power
- Subordinates' resistance to delegation
- The delegate does not know the views of subordinates
- The amount of delegated work is very challenging both physically and mentally
- Subordinates’ belief that they are unable to complete the delegated task
- Natural resistance to authority
- Over-delegation
Tasks that should not be delegated :
• Orienting new nurses . - Calendar
• Imposing penalties .
• Authorization of the president’s signature .
Why don't more people delegate?
• Bosses' lack of confidence in decisions made by others on their behalf.
• Lack of efficiency of managers and their lack of awareness of the advantages of delegation.
• Lack of competence of subordinates such that the boss is unable to rely on them.
• Lack of trust in those working with him. - Fear of employee competition.
• The manager's lack of understanding of his true responsibilities and powers.
· Fear of appearing lazy .