Delegating With Purpose: Building a Never Ending Strategy

Leaders often delegate projects to their teams with an assignment to complete the project by the end date. The goal is to finish one task and be ready to start something new. This process of checking off one task and moving quickly to the next often leaves out a critical piece of strategy and purpose.

Connecting Projects to the Overall Vision

That critical piece is understanding the connection between each project and task to the overall vision. A project should not be seen as the end goal, but rather an important step to accomplishing our overall vision. A project has value and the ability to create momentum when we realize this connection.

Furthermore, leaders must not only focus on this connection but should also communicate it regularly to their team. Too often, team members are left to identify their own priorities and reasons for completing a task. This lack of clarity from leadership then leads team members to view projects and tasks as one more thing to be done. They may not grasp the importance of that assignment.

When Delegated Work Feels Like Busy Work

Over the years, team members have frequently complained about their supervisors dumping work on their desk and feeling overworked. These feelings reveal a lot about how little importance they attach to their delegated work. In fact, they may view it as busy work which has little impact in the end.

When Strategic Planning Goes Nowhere

I once worked for an organization that asked our team to create a strategic plan and goals for the upcoming year. Our team put considerable time and effort into accomplishing that task. Leadership accepted the report and never mentioned it again. The next year, when asked to do the same thing, the team simply updated the prior year’s strategic plan and submitted it again. The result sadly was the same: nothing.

Explain Why the Project Matters

When delegating tasks, it is critical that leaders take a few moments to discuss why this project matters. Explain how it will improve their service or products. Explain how it will assist in meeting the needs of the team or clients. Outlining the strategy of how we will move towards our vision through accomplishing these individual steps demonstrates respect. It also creates a feeling of importance for each member of the team. Create a never ending strategy by sharing how you are using each project or task to build towards and fulfill a future.