Delegation is not limited to the workplace; it can also be a powerful tool to streamline responsibilities and achieve balance in your home life. We free up time and energy for more meaningful activities and reduce stress by effectively delegating tasks and responsibilities. We also help to build the capabilities of other family members. Especially for children, this process can be empowering, and it can also improve their confidence and self-esteem. Today, we discuss how to effectively delegate at home to overcome or avoid burnout, to foster a team spirit, and to help us achieve our personal goals.
How to Delegate at Home (and Why to Do It)
Many of us have what seems like a never-ending list of household tasks that are necessary to keep our home clean, safe, comfortable, organized, and running smoothly.
Today, home chores are often more evenly shared between men and women than they were in the past. Nevertheless, women often continue to bear more of the burden for both household chores and child-rearing related duties.
This also includes the “mental load” of running a household. This division of labor that has the majority of tasks landing on women persists, despite the fact that it is more and more common for women have full-time jobs.
And these jobs we hold bring added responsibility, stress, and create conflicting priorities that make it more difficult to carry out home chores most readily completed during the workday. Trying to do it all (and do it all well) is a recipe for burnout, sleep deprivation, and potentially, disaster.
Modelling inappropriate division of labor to our children is also a problem. They should learn from their parent’s example that moms and dads (or moms and moms – or dads and dads) share equally in the responsibility to create and maintain a happy and organized home. And that children contribute all they can from an early age. Last, they should learn that tasks can and should be assigned based on a person’s strengths, abilities, and preferences as opposed to their gender.
Delegating responsibility for some household chores and tasks makes life easier for us. But it also has many other less obvious benefits.
Benefits of Delegation at Home
Sharing household chores among family members has many benefits beyond simply sharing the workload.
- Research has shown that involving everyone in household tasks fosters a sense of teamwork, unity, and mutual respect.
- Assigning tasks to our kids can contribute to the development of essential life skills in young children and adolescents, such as responsibility, time management, and accountability.
- Sharing chores has been linked to creating a positive family atmosphere and fostering family values, ultimately strengthening the bond between and among family members.
- Involving all family members in chores promotes a more equitable household dynamic and provides a foundation for appreciating the value of cooperation, teamwork and collaboration.
These benefits highlight the positive impact sharing household chores can have on both family relationships and individual development. Now that we know many reasons it’s important to delegate at home, let’s get into how to effectively do it.
Learn More About How to Delegate Well
Identify Tasks to Delegate at Home
Chores include the basics of cooking and cleaning, but there is so much more to be done. There’s outdoor work like weeding, mowing, gardening, taking the trash and recycling out, or walking the dog. Then there are indoor chores like making beds, doing laundry, packing lunches or feeding a pet.
There are also tasks that are best suited to older children or a spouse such as taking care of the younger kids, paying bills, or transporting children to and from activities. Even toddlers can help out at home by learning to pick up their toys, and by staying nearby and playing quietly while the rest of the family works together.
The first task to undertake is to come up with a complete list of the tasks and responsibilities and then identify the ones that may possibly be delegated to someone else. Take into consideration the skills, capabilities, and availability of family members or household members.
Assess each task’s urgency and importance to prioritize which ones can be delegated.
Discuss Chores to Delegate at Home
Open communication is key when delegating tasks at home. Discuss your expectations, responsibilities, and any deadlines with your family members. Clearly communicate why their effort is appropriate and how it contributes to the overall functionality of the household.
Encourage open dialogue and address any questions or concerns. When mistakes are made, treat them as teachable moments, and try to find humor in every situation – no one does things perfectly the first time they try.
Assign Tasks Appropriately
Match tasks to each person based on their strengths, skills, and interests. Anyone can help. As noted above, there are even chores that a toddler can handle. Just the notion of being part of the family team from an early age will help children to pitch in naturally as they get older.
Assign tasks that make the best use of each family member’s abilities and align with their schedules.
Consider rotating responsibilities to ensure a fair distribution of tasks and to give everyone the opportunity to learn new skills. Keep an eye open for moments of accomplishment and praise, especially for younger children. As they attempt and/or master new skills, be generous with kind words.
Provide Instructions and Resources When You Delegate at Home
When delegating tasks, provide clear instructions and guidelines to ensure that each family member understands what is expected. If necessary, provide resources such as written instructions, demonstrations, or tutorials to facilitate the completion of the task.
Encourage family members to ask for clarification if needed. Be available, especially to your children, as they try to take on new tasks, and provide them encouragement every step of the way.
Notice each child’s learning style and work to accommodate it. Do they appreciate having you within arm’s reach? Do they prefer to try things independently and seek you out when they need help? Unless safety is an issue, err on the side of providing them independence – and watch what happens.
Empower and Trust When You Delegate at Home
When delegating tasks, empower family members to take ownership and encourage them to find their own ways of accomplishing the task. Avoid micro-managing and trust that they will complete the tasks effectively.
This fosters a sense of autonomy and responsibility. We all have our own particular way of doing things, but we can’t let our version of perfection be the enemy of the good, so to speak. Welcome new approaches, and techniques, if it gets the job done.
Foster a Team Approach
Emphasize the importance of teamwork and collaboration within the household. Encourage family members to support each other in completing their tasks and help out if they have the capacity.
By fostering a team approach, the responsibilities become shared, promoting a sense of unity and cooperation.
Provide constructive feedback and express appreciation for their efforts. Acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of your family members. Express gratitude for their participation, especially when they go above and beyond or take pride in their work. Recognize their efforts to foster motivation and a positive atmosphere.
How to Effectively Delegate at Home
Effective delegation at home can make a significant difference in simplifying our responsibilities and creating a harmonious household. By working together, everyone can contribute to a happier and more efficient home life.
Ready to try out some new strategies to help you achieve your life goals? Visit Life Coaching Techniques: How to Use the Best Ones Yourself.
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Joan Senio is the founder of Kindness-Compassion-and-Coaching.com. Joan’s career includes clinical healthcare plus 20+ years as an executive in a nationwide health care system and 15 years as a consultant. The common threads throughout Joan’s personal and professional life are a commitment to non-profit organizations, mental health, compassionate coaching, professional development and servant leadership. She is a certified Neuroscience Coach, member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is also a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me. You can read more about Joan here: Joan Senio.
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