As an agency leader, you probably feel like you have to be everywhere all the time. Since this is physically impossible, the next best thing is delegation. You cannot manage client relationships, oversee sales, enforce regulations processes, and keep your team happy by yourself.
When you delegate crucial tasks, you sharpen your leadership skills. It takes leadership qualities to realize when to delegate and who to delegate tasks to. Ultimately, this will keep your agency growing and thriving.
Understanding What to Delegate
However, delegation is not as simple as it may seem. It is not an opportunity to dump the work you do not want to do on someone else. Delegating means strategically choosing team members and assigning tasks you know they can oversee and complete.
These tasks may include administrative duties or data entry. But it may also include customer relations and marketing duties. Identify team members who already have some or all of the skills and experience necessary to take on these tasks. Work with them to develop and improve their skills so they can eventually take ownership of entire departments.
Also, each team member should have clear goals and deadlines and communicate what is expected of them. This is the best way to instill a sense of accountability.
Just remember that if you have a specific skill set of your own, especially when it comes to sensitive client data, you may have to keep control of related tasks yourself.
Choosing the Right Person for the Task
So, how do you choose the right person for each task? You match their emotional maturity, people skills, as well as job-related skills with what needs to get done. This way, you can ensure that each task is completed well, benefiting your agency and clients.
Also, allow your agents and other staff members to grow into their insurance careers by delegating tasks they may not have experience with. Doing this will take them out of their comfort zones and encourage professional development. However, remember not to overload team members if they struggle to get through their existing workload.
It is vital to get to know each member of your team. Consider their strengths and weaknesses and what they want to achieve in your agency. Doing this will give you more information to work with when you start delegating work.
When you invest time in understanding your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and development, you can make better decisions when delegating tasks.
Providing Clear Instructions and Expectations
Your team may be a little nervous and unsure about tackling new tasks. This is why you must communicate clearly what each task entails and what you expect from each team member.
Provide each team member with a detailed description of their new duties. This may include a checklist and a manual. All descriptions must include the purpose of each task and how long it should take to complete them. Be specific about the quality you expect regarding each task.
Also, make online resources available to team members who need more assistance to complete their tasks. Encourage questions so everyone can determine whether they are on the right track. This way, you can eliminate misunderstandings and ensure everyone can complete their tasks on time.
Monitoring Progress and Giving Feedback
If you feel unsure about giving control of specific tasks to other team members, you must think about the process differently. Delegating does not mean relinquishing control and moving on to other things.
It is about entrusting your team to handle specific tasks while continuing to oversee every workflow. So, instead of doing everything yourself and becoming overwhelmed, you ensure your team gets things done correctly.
For this reason, it is important to schedule one-on-one meetings with your team members. This will allow them to discuss their progress and address any concerns they have. And you can give them guidance on processes they may be unfamiliar with.
It is also critical to provide constructive feedback to optimize the delegation process.
Leveraging Technology for Delegation
The latest technology can help you delegate more efficiently. For example, with JenesisSoftware you can assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress on one platform.
Team members can use the JenesisNow system to communicate and collaborate, even if some work remotely. Jenesis also makes it easy to track performance so you can keep shaping your delegation strategies.
Maximize Your Agency’s Performance By Delegating
Again, delegating does not mean simply handing over your responsibilities and moving on. You want your agency to function like a well-oiled machine.
You can only do this by empowering your team to take responsibility for tasks that will shape their skills. By delegating work this way, you can focus on critical leadership while teaching your employees how to take ownership of their work.
The stronger you make your team, the more successful your agency will become. And you will have less stress and more peace of mind at the same time.