I must admit I am a bit of a control freak; however I have no problem delegating certain work to certain people. Some jobs I keep a close eye on, and others I do not worry too much about. A lot depends on how important the job is, and who is doing it. It comes down to having confidence in others.

However, one thing I have learnt from my many years in business is, you cannot always do everything yourself. This is true, even if it is sometimes quicker and cheaper to do things yourself.

Delegation is a management skill that is often overlooked. Over the years I have found delegation to be an excellent method for training staff. Here is how you do it.

When giving other people tasks to do, clearly explain what is involved and when the job is to be completed. Check that the person has understood by asking them what it is you are requiring them to do. If they are required to do a repetitive task, you may want finish your request with the words -”show me.” If they are unable to do this, you may not have explained the task clearly enough.

In the beginning assume that they know nothing and explain key requirements in detail. As time progresses, you will need to explain things less and less. Staff will be able to do things well, often without even being asked and without supervision. It will make your job easier and your employees will get more satisfaction knowing that you trust them to do a good job.

I often hear business owners complaining their employees make mistakes, or do not do jobs correctly. The question needs to be asked, “Have they been thoroughly trained?” Often jobs are not done properly because the employee has not been shown the correct method. Whose fault is that?

However, good management also involves giving employees responsibility, respect and encouragement. We all make mistakes at times… none of us are perfect.

Encourage employees to bring problems to you. Get them to think through the problem well enough so they can clearly explain it. Once explained, they should be encouraged to think of various solutions and be in a position to recommend the best option. They should be encouraged to think for themselves and see you only when necessary.

If your employees are not doing their jobs properly, then you need to look at your level of training or retraining. If they cannot be trained then you may be best to look at replacing them.

However, remember that we are individuals and we all have our own working styles. You cannot always expect your employees to be as dedicated as you are. Everyone can bring different skills to a business.

Perhaps one of the hardest things to do is to learn to trust the skills and decision-making capabilities of other people. The only way to develop trust in other people is by giving them the opportunities to succeed or fail. If you do this, you will get the full benefit of what others can offer. After a few successes your trust will grow and other people will be happier knowing they have your confidence.