Once you have decided to delegate a task, think about the possible candidates for accepting the task. Things to think about include:

• What experience, knowledge, skills, and attitude does the person already have?
• What training or assistance might they need?
• Do you have the time and resources to provide any training needed?
• What is the individual’s preferred work style? Do they do well on their own or do they require more support and motivation? How independent are they?
• What does he or she want from his or her job?
• What are his or her long-term goals and interest, and how do these align with the work proposed?
• What is the current workload of this person? Does the person have time to take on more work?
• Will you delegating this task require reshuffling of other responsibilities and workloads?

When you first start to delegate to someone, you may notice that it takes longer than you do to complete tasks. This is because you are an expert in the field and the person you have delegated to is still learning. Be patient: if you have chosen the right person to delegate to, and you are delegating correctly, you will find that he or she quickly becomes competent and reliable. Try to delegate to the lowest possible organizational level. The people who are closest to the work are best suited for the task because they have the most intimate knowledge of the detail of everyday work. This also increases workplace efficiency, and helps to develop people.