How to Effectively Delegate



Successful people master delegation, while mediocre performers desperately hang on to tasks which are important but better left to administrative experts. Being clear as to how you’d be more productive if you had the time is key to getting motivated about delegating. You are where you are because of your people skills, your communication skills, your leadership abilities, and your selling abilities. Effective delegating allows you, as a leader, to develop people by expanding their expertise, their independence and their areas of responsibility. The key, of course, to achieving these goals is to delegate effectively.




1. Choose the right tasks to delegate

Clearly not all tasks are good candidates for delegation. A rule of thumb that I’ve used for years is that a task which does not involve judgment is usually a good candidate for delegation. It's not that the other person can't make a decision, but you are in the position you're in because someone trusts your judgment. Ultimately the responsibility falls on your shoulders. Also, don’t delegate production-oriented activities; those stay on your plate, too.



2. Select the right individual(s) for the task

Make sure you choose a delegate whose talents match the skill set needed for the task. If necessary, rearrange delegated tasks to give the right person the time for the new task.



3. Be clear in your communications

Ever give someone a task or report to do and have them do something completely different than what you wanted? Be clear on what you're requesting and have them repeat their understanding of your request. Also, get in the habit of checking in on the progress of important tasks. (See #6 below.)



4. Make certain each person has the right tools and sufficient knowledge to use them properly

Sometimes the right person doesn't have the tools or knowledge required for the task (and they may be reluctant to admit it!). If you suspect that may be the case, make sure they know who to go to or where to go to find the information and/or tools.



5. Create accountability

There are few things worse than delegating a task and finding out it's not finished when you need it. Most of us have experienced this challenge. It's important to be clear on the importance of the deadline associated with the task. Regardless of whether the delegate "should" be on track or not, a missed deadline falls on your shoulders. You're the one who will ultimately feel the stress caused by a missed timeline. Make sure you stay on top of important delegated tasks. In addition, if you state that a task is important but then neglect to give it the attention it deserves, it reflects on your integrity. It demonstrates that you will say one thing but will do another. Do what you say you will do and say what you mean to say.



6. Provide ongoing communication and feedback

In order to ensure that your deadline is met and the work is being done properly, it's important to check in on the progress of the assignment. Course corrections are critical to the successful and timely completion of important tasks.



Effective delegation will leverage your time and your efforts. It will work to develop your team and make them more valuable, more productive and more loyal. If you want to boost your production, spend more of your time on efforts that produce and less time on tasks that are administrative.



And finally, effective delegating allows you, as a leader, to develop people by expanding their expertise, their independence and their areas of responsibility. The key, of course, to achieving these goals is to delegate effectively. There's nothing worse than delegating a task and having it done wrong, done poorly or even worse, not done at all...


By Michael Beck

Written by Michael Beck, "Head Zookeeper" at http://www.ClientMonkey.com, a marketing strategies website dedicated to getting more clients, making more money, and having more fun! Receive a FREE program on recruiting & prospecting success at: http://www.PowerRecruitingandProspecting.com


Mr. Beck's credentials include an MBA from the Wharton School of Business along with degrees in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Michael has held a variety of executive positions including CEO, COO, CFO, EVP, VP of Finance, and VP of Business Development. In addition, he worked several years overseas as a Business Advisor to a member of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. He is a Founding Member of the International Association of Coaches and a Past-President of the Denver Coach Federation.

Versace to Design Residential Tower in Southeast Asia

It’s hard not think of spectacle upon hearing the name Versace. From the gilded winged teacups of the company’s early tableware collections to the bare-to-there, fringed gown in which “Mad Men” actress January Jones crossed the red carpet at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, the Versace label has long emulated the essence of over-the-top Italian ornamentation tempered by a contemporary design edge that keeps the glitz glamorous rather than gaudy.

For its next fantastic feat, Versace’s nearly 20-year-old home-design division is creating interiors for Century Properties’ $68 million Manila-based residential tower, part of the developer’s 8 1/2-acre mixed-use Century City complex. Set to open in 2015, Versace interiors will be featured in nearly all the 53-floor building’s common areas, including the lobby, lounge, library, pool, and spa. Interior schemes by the designer will also be available to residents customizing any of the project’s private units, from one- to three-bedroom apartments to penthouses and town homes.

The partnership represents Versace’s first foray into Southeast Asia.

Article Courtesy of our friends at InteriorDesign.net
Renderings Courtesy of Century Properties



IDRA the Agency: Software Review: PDF2Cad

As director of The Interior Design Resource Agency, I always have my eye out for time-saving solutions for interior designers.  I think this software is genius. With it you can take a simple sketch or floor plan and convert it to CAD. It’s priced affordably under $200 and the makers are offering a free trial, an evaluation version and online support among its perks. Below are some features from the manufacturers site.








pdf2cad™ converts engineering drawings saved as Adobe PDF files into DXF files that you can open and edit in AutoCAD™ and other popular engineering programs. They can then be edited and saved in native CAD formats such as DWG for AutoCAD and DGN for Microstation. pdf2cad also generates HPGL which is a popular CAD archival format.


pdf2cad is ideal for converting PDF-based CAD drawings as wells as floor-plans, network diagrams and organization charts into Microsoft® Visio®. This capability is key as more and more firms are storing and receiving drawings in the Adobe PDF file format and need to use them with Visio



Features in pdf2cad:

•Convert PDF files into the standard CAD interchange format DXF as well as HPGL

•Convert one file or multiple files using the built in batch mode

•Convert all pages or specify a page rage

•Intelligent object recognition

•Concatenates characters to form editable words and lines of text

•Cropping

•Add white space to page

•Rotate output by any degree

•Option to ignore text, images or paths during conversion

•Map fonts for high fidelity file match

•Scale page to match original dimensions of file

•Specify minimum line width

•Separates layers in CAD drawing based on colors

•Dashed/dotted lines as segments

•Saves all images as referenced file in DXF format

•Command-line version and Windows DLL available for developers

•Expanded support for non-standard fonts

•Option to remove or outline hatches/fills

•Improved reporting on errors and warnings

•Streamlined interface for faster and easier conversions

5 Simple Steps To Build Your Firm in Slow Times



Simple Methods to Utilize Slow Times to Build Your Organization

5 simple steps that will help you to use slow times in your business to actually grow and expand your company.

Slow times are normal for each business enterprise, any business person can deny that. However you possibly commonly hear completely opposite statements in that regard,right? Well then, without a doubt the one thing, without slow times your company would likely fail really fast.


Slow times provide you with a probability to step back and look at your enterprise from a different view. As a consequence of them you are able to finally concentrate on stuff you probably would not ordinarily have time for. And I don't necessarily mean your equipment maintenance or perhaps catching up with the taxes. These items are crucial too but slow times provide you with the chance to check out exactly how your online business works and fix anything you sense isn't right.


Yet, notwithstanding that a great many decision makers fright them.


People contemplate all of them an indication of difficulty in the firm, marketplace or organization on the whole whereas in many instances they only exhibit that you did a great job for your customers. You satisfied their requirements, solved their challenges and it is now time for you to go on a deserved and needed vacation from them. Your clients will in the end come back to your company when they have fresh difficulties to resolve or needs to fulfill. Until then, this is your the perfect time to force your corporation ahead.


Coming from my working experience however, the majority of business people sit back and whine at the state of their organization whenever slow times arrive. It's really a natural reaction, needless to say. Afterall, most people really feel protected if the enterprise is busy, once things quieten down a tad, we all drop that experience straightaway.


Fortuitously, you are able to remain rather occupied while in slow times and also increase your online business concurrently by doing those several things.


5 Superb Important Things You Can Do To Progress Your Business Through Slow Times



1. Evaluate your errors.

Evaluate exactly how your online business performed in the last few a few months. Learn what you or your staff members do incorrect (and there is generally some thing) and figure out a way of changing that.



2. Make contact with 5 of your ideal consumers and inquire them precisely why they're still with you and what they want you to strengthen.

Having buyer opinions is a thing you typically don't possess time for when things are busy. Thus, as soon as things quieten down, spend some time and go to 5 of your finest consumers. Request to reveal how they see your small business, the things they enjoy with regards to you and the way your company actually does the business and what would they like you to change. Based upon that you'll be capable of improve way your organization functions and grow a lot better provider to your customers.



3. Evaluate your market.

Verify exactly how your sector or market is performing in general. Are your competitors growing or dropping rates or closing? Are they getting new employees or do quite the opposite?


Your situation out there is based on how much you work on distinguishing your business from competition and also on how great you're in forecasting the changes on the market.


Once the online business is occupied, there isn't time to consider it but as soon as you do, look closely at your niche. Not only you may discover that unless you act quick you might be in difficulty but, and above all, you might find a new concepts to explore. Ones that may provide you with new business and even more cash.



4. Improve your qualified prospects list.

You almost certainly already realize how much significance I give to sales. If you ask me, they may be the lifeblood of any company, be it a free-lance or a larger business. However to keep sales and profits happening you might want a fresh list of qualified prospects. Qualify much more of them, add names to the list, research them, perhaps even discover untouched markets you could explore. Then, start selling.



5. Read a minimum of one business e book and apply concepts from it instantly.

Yes, I realize, this really is a bit of a lighter suggestion compared to the others. But it is vital also. In order to succeed in business it is advisable to study it, and you need to do it all your life. Unfortunately though, when things are hectic and your organization is working on full speed there isn't time to expand your knowledge. Use slow times to catch up with the books you've been recently meaning to read and implement thoughts you find in them to your business.


As a final point, here is the slow times' dirty secret - they won't last forever. And it is your choice to sit and whine about them or use that time wisely and grow your company.


By Theresa Waslh
Photography by Daniel Sroga