Master Delegation in 3 Simple Steps

Delegating tasks within architectural and engineering consulting firms is a skill that can make or break your team's efficiency and effectiveness. Many professionals, including myself, have fallen into the trap of trying to handle everything themselves, leading to frustration and subpar results. In this post, we share a valuable delegation strategy that has transformed my approach and can benefit your firm too.

The Pitfall of "Doing It All"

The common belief that "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself" can be pervasive in consulting firms. I, too, struggled with this mentality for years, assigning tasks I disliked to my staff expecting them to learn to excel on their own. I ultimately realized that they didn't like the tasks either and struggled as well. This led to wasted time, frustration and mediocre outcomes.

A New Approach: Teach-Verify-Delegate

My perspective shifted when I heard a colleague discuss the idea that his staff should learn from their mistakes, much like he did in his own career. I suddenly understood how impractical the "learn on your own" concept was. The process led me to discover a more structured approach: "teach-verify-delegate."

Learning from the Best: The Greg Approach

To refine this strategy, I turned to our most efficient project manager, Greg. His consistent ability to manage projects effectively and develop his team caught my attention. Greg revealed a key secret to his success: dedicating a significant portion of his time to staff education and training. He emphasized a process that involved teaching a task, verifying the team's proficiency, and gradually entrusting them with the responsibility.

Time Well Spent

Some might argue that they don't have the time for teaching, but tracking the time spent reviewing work, making corrections, and redoing tasks quickly shows that initial teaching sessions are a worthwhile investment. The "teach-verify-delegate" approach ultimately proves to be less stressful and more efficient than expecting team members to independently excel at tasks.

In conclusion, mastering delegation is crucial for consulting firms. Embracing the "teach-verify-delegate" strategy can enhance efficiency, reduce frustration, and elevate the quality of your firm's work. Give it a try, and you'll likely see positive results in no time.