Architecture's collaborative nature means that leaders, more than ever, need to understand how to guide their teams. We've all had that supervisor or project manager who asks us to do something, only to leave us feeling confused and unsure of what needs to be accomplished. When we finish the task, we discover that we had it all wrong and have to redo hours of careful work. Or perhaps, if we switch roles, we remember those moments where we've asked someone below us to complete something. When we return, we discover the work is nowhere near what we were looking for.

In both cases, it's often the one doing the delegating who needs to refine their approach. The person who received the direction has typically done their best to follow the instructions they were given. Delegation, like most other things in professional work, is a skill that we can improve. Leadership coach, Deborah Grayson Riegel has identified eight practices of leaders who delegate successfully:

1. They pick the right person. Riegel suggests that we should not only pick the people who can do something, but we should also consider who might need to develop the skills involved, who has shown interest, and who is ready for the challenge. 
2. They're clear about what the person is responsible for and how much autonomy they have. 
3. They describe the desired results in detail. "This includes setting clear expectations about the outcome ('what it is'), how the task fits into the bigger picture ('why we're doing it'), and criteria for measuring success ('what it should look like when done well')," Riegel writes.
4. They make sure team members have the resources they need to do the job. This could be anything from training, supplies, time, help from others, etc.
5. They establish milestones and junctures for feedback to help avoid micromanagement while also keeping good track of progress.
6. They encourage new, creative ways for team members to accomplish goals. Good leaders don't stay attached to how things have been done in the past, they are open to approaches that deliver results.
7. They create a motivating environment. "Successful delegators know when to cheerlead, coach, step in, step back, adjust expectations, make themselves available, and celebrate successes.," Reigel writes.
8. They tolerate risks and mistakes, and use them as learning opportunities.