What To Delegate

Submitted by mauzenne on Sat, 07/25/2009 - 21:33.
in

This cast recommends simple choices for what to delegate to our directs.

When we train groups or coach executives and managers on delegation, the question we most frequently get is, okay, but WHAT do I delegate? For many years, we resisted giving guidance on WHAT to delegate. We were much more focused on the HOW of delegation, which we have codified in the fourth concept in the Manager Tools Trinity.

But frankly, everyone keeps asking WHAT to delegate! For years we've been saying that that decision is best based on the manager's priorities and the directs' abilities. But frankly, it must not be as easy as we thought. Managers whom we have trained still ask, what, what, what. So, this podcast addresses the basics of WHAT to delegate to our directs.


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ChrisBakerPM's picture
Submitted by ChrisBakerPM on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 21:12.

Delegation failures - clinging to the comfortable

Listening to the advice in this podcast (identify your key responsibilities and keep those; figure out how and to whom all the rest can be delegated) made me think about the difference between being effective and being comfortable, and why some managers find it so hard to delegate.

The high-value stuff for which the manager is clearing his or her desk is likely to be "the challenging stuff" - and perhaps t"he new stuff "the manager was not doing before promotion.  Also perhaps "the stuff where success is hard to achieve".

So I think I've seen managers clinging to some of the "easy stuff" because it offers them a time in the week when they can work on familiar and unchallenging things as a rest from these challenges. OF COURSE that is wrong (not least because the important stuff then either doesn't get done, or means working late), but it's oh so tempting.

Hence, perhaps, President Carter personally controlling the schedule for tennis games on the White House lawn. With an energy crisis on one side, hostages in Iran on the other, the Soviet army invading Afghanistan and all the other woes, the temptation to tackle something tractable and finishable (even if just a schedule of tennis games) must have been high.

 

vervec's picture
Submitted by vervec on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 00:17.

Delegate what directs are good at and what they like to do?

Guys, often what I get out of your casts is an affirmation that my gut instincts are actually pretty good.  

I've been delegating what my folks like to do for years because it just works.   I've also beet myself up some, thinking I'm being to soft and accommodating.

I'd rather have directs in the zone ... engaged and passionate about their work. The loyalty and production you get in return is usually exponential.

Although I've been out of communication for more than a year, I still listen to every MT cast on Saturday mornings - Usually at 7 am while walking my Boarder Collie Kelso in the woods.

(By the way ... Nice job on the site ... I was pleasantly surprised)

 Mike

Mike Ciolino
Verve Creative Inc
Branding, Design  & Internet Marketing for Small Business

Boston, MA
http://www.getverve.com