Workplace Skills 101: Delegating Skills - Live, Virtual Class (1 day workshop)

This course is part of our workplace skills 101 series, designed for companies and organisations. The series is taught by an Industrial and Organisational (IO) Psychologist. So what is IO Psychology? IO psychologists focus on the behaviour of employees in the workplace. They apply psychological principles and research methods to improve the overall work environment, including performance, communication, professional satisfaction and safety. They can do this through a number of ways, such as observation, or in this case, through workshops and online courses aimed at employees.

There are many variables that determine how well an organisation or company operates. Effective communication and conflict resolution, process evaluation, professional competence and effective management are examples of the components necessary for businesses to succeed. Often, shortcomings in any of these areas can be traced back to the ways employees are selected, trained, share information or interact. IO psychologists use their knowledge of human behaviour to address these challenges.

IO psychology techniques can be applied to all types of organisational and workplace settings, such as manufacturing, commercial enterprises, labor unions and health care facilities. Specific applications can include creative strategic thinking, delegating skills, effective decision-making strategies, team development, emotional intelligence for teams, performance feedback and coaching, leadership skills, and work-life balance.

How does this class work?

This is a virtual, live online class, taught by a tutor in real-time. It requires a minimum of five learners to run (i.e. you’ll need to enrol 5 learners). The customer (e.g. organisation/company) can select their own class date/s. The tutor will use diagrams, illustrations, and examples to teach the course. You will also be provided with digital course material (where necessary), that you will use during the course. The tutor will give students the opportunity to interact with him/her during or after the lessons.

Key features of class:

• 1-day, 4hr live, online workshop
• Taught by an IO Psychologist
• Requires a minimum of five learners to run
• The customer (i.e. organisation/company) can select their own class date/s
• Course material provided, where necessary
• Course can be taken remotely, from any where in the world
• Ideal for both concentrated or dispersed employees
• No exams required upon completion of course

What’s covered in this class?

In order to develop others, you must be comfortable delegating work and ensuring your employees are accountable for delivery. In this course you will gain insight and tips on how to delegate effectively, learn how delegating can empower others, and identify what tasks should or should not be delegated while considering skill sets.

What is a delegating leadership style?

A delegating leadership style is a low task and relationship behavior approach to leadership where a leader empowers an individual to exercise autonomy. Employing this approach entails providing the individual with the big picture, then trusting them to deliver agreed-upon results. While delegative leaders may not participate in every decision, they often provide resources to their teams and bear responsibility for outcomes. In some cases, delegative leadership can bring many benefits.

The benefits of implementing a delegative approach across an organisation

These are some of the benefits that delegation leadership can provide:

1. Prevents burnout

Delegative leadership can allow supervisors and managers to reduce their workload. This is often beneficial and can prevent these professionals from experiencing burnout in the workplace. Delegative techniques can be especially helpful in companies that have many employees and few supervisors and for leaders who fill a large number of roles besides overseeing employees.

2. Improves employee satisfaction

Delegative leadership styles often give employees the opportunity to exercise their individual talents and make decisions about their work. Staff members may also be able to find different approaches to tasks that suit their individual strengths. This can often introduce more flexibility into the workplace and can often lead to increased employee satisfaction and a better company culture. It may also reduce disciplinary incidents which can improve relationships between leaders and staff.

3. Allows strategic use of skills

While delegative leaders often avoid overseeing routine tasks, they still have the ability to influence decision-making and project outcomes in their company. This is often beneficial for supervisors who have a unique set of talents and can allow them to focus on their strengths in a strategic way. They can ensure that they are available whenever their expertise is necessary without slowing the workflow of their employees.

4. Conveys trust

A delegative style of leadership requires supervisors to trust their employees’ decision-making skills and work ethic. The trust that this leadership style conveys can increase cohesion among the team and enhance the relationship between staff members and leaders. These factors can make delegative leadership very beneficial in companies that have highly skilled or experienced employees.

5. Saves time

Allowing employees to make individual decisions about their work style can reduce the time that teams spend receiving instructions. It can also minimize meetings and training sessions and can allow employees to focus on increasing their productivity and finding solutions to workplace challenges. Delegative leadership can also allow staff members to apply solutions as soon as they develop them without waiting for approval from supervisors.

6. Fosters growth

Delegative leadership can often encourage growth among staff members. It can help them find solutions that work for them and can help them take more responsibility in their work. Delegation can also allow the most productive employees to excel without being slowed down by micromanagement and can be a good way to prepare employees to take on leadership roles later in their careers.

7. Promotes innovation

Delegative leadership often brings all of a company’s employees into the decision-making process. This can be a good way to make full use of a business’s human capital and can foster an atmosphere of innovation. Encouraging employees to make decisions and take initiative can ensure that companies use all of their resources to confront challenges and find opportunities for growth.

All you need is an internet connection and a device, such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC, and an internet connection. We recommend you access it using either a laptop or desktop computer through Google Chrome.