As a working mother with five teenagers and a business to run, one of the skills I am most proud of is my ability to delegate. All my children know how to unload the dishwasher, load the washing machine and cook dinner.
In my view, delegation in agency businesses is essential as it enhances productivity and empowers teams, enabling busy estate agency managers to focus on other more important tasks.
In this article, I will look at the value of delegation for today’s busy agency, and how managers can delegate more effectively, offering top tips on improving their delegation skills.
The importance of delegation
Before addressing this, I believe it is important to look at what the key aspects of delegation include. These are:
+ Allocating specific tasks or projects
+ Empowering others to take responsibility
+ Providing necessary resources and authority to complete tasks, and
+ Monitoring progress without micromanaging
Delegation in management – why?
Effective delegation is essential for several reasons. Firstly, and as outlined above, it can help to enhance productivity. By delegating, managers free up their time to focus on strategic activities, and tasks which they may deem to be higher-priority, and it can help them to also take on leadership responsibilities. This could be business generation focused such as reviewing prospect customer data and planning prospecting sessions.
Secondly, it can help to develop agency skills and growth – giving team members opportunities to grow and take ownership of projects. This in turn will support making them feel more empowered and trusted by their managers.
The very act of delegating tasks will also help to improve efficiency. It is vital for managers to assign specific tasks to relevant team members who possess the right skills, for example sales progression. Those who have been in agency for a while will appreciate that each role in the property world requires different skills. The skills of a sales progressor which include: legal knowledge, time management and problem-solving, are very different from those of a lister/valuer, which are: sales skills, presentation skills and overcoming objections.
How to delegate effectively
Delegation is not simply about handing off work—it requires planning and communication. Here are the key steps agency managers should consider for doing this effectively:
Identify what needs to be delegated: Consider tasks that are time-consuming, repetitive, or can be handled by others with the right skills. For example: viewing feedback, offer negotiations and managing morning meetings.
Communicate clearly: It is vitally important to set clear expectations regarding the task objectives, the overall timelines and the desired outcomes. Ensure the team member understands what success should look like, and at which points they should seek guidance and advice.
Provide support and resources: Ensuring your staff member has access to the necessary tools, information and resources to complete the task successfully.
Trust your team member. Allow autonomy and let them handle the task. Avoid micromanaging, as it can demotivate and undermine the purpose of delegation. Give them the freedom to approach the task in their own way.
Monitor progress: Check in to track progress and offer support if needed.
Recognise and reward achievement: Positive reinforcement encourages team members to take ownership of future tasks and builds morale.
Delegation – top tips:
+ Start small: Begin by assigning small, manageable tasks. As your team members succeed, gradually delegate more responsibility.
+ Tailor your approach: Adjust your approach based on the individual’s experience, confidence, and skills.
+ Delegate outcomes, not just tasks: Whenever possible, delegate outcomes instead of specific actions. This allows your team members to take initiative and to find creative solutions.
+ Be patient: Recognise that delegation is a growth opportunity. Use potential mistakes as learning curves, as opposed to taking over the reins immediately.
+ Conduct a debrief: Once a task is complete, conduct an assessment on how it went and where improvements can be made – to support continuous team development.
Mastering the art of delegation is an essential aspect of being the best manager you can be. By learning how to delegate effectively, communicating expectations, providing autonomy and offering guidance (if needed at any stage), agency managers can build a stronger, more capable team whilst at the same time enhancing their leadership capabilities.
Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell is founder and director of the Able Agent.
