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Submitted by US101 on
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What if the delegation is really not a choice on my direct reports part?

Wouldn't it be more effective to just be honest and say, " Listen, there really is no choice about this..so, what reservations do you have about doing this?"

Tim G's picture

I don't know, but it seems negative to me. It may just be semantics but in that situation I'd go more along the lines of "This is the task that needs to be accomplished, I need you to take the ball on this one and I wanted to work with you and get your thoughts on what you perceive as outcomes we can reach, possibilities, issues, potential stumbling blocks.....?"

bflynn's picture

[quote="Tim G"]I don't know, but it seems negative to me. It may just be semantics but in that situation I'd go more along the lines of "This is the task that needs to be accomplished, I need you to take the ball on this one and I wanted to work with you and get your thoughts on what you perceive as outcomes we can reach, possibilities, issues, potential stumbling blocks.....?"[/quote]

I have to agree - there is something negative about stating it as inevitable. Inevitable implies that it should be obvious to everyone. When its not obvious to your direct, there is a implication that there's something they don't know.

Additionally, it isn't "no choice". There is a choice, which is to do nothing and stumble along.

Am I hearing that your direct doesn't want to delagate something that he really doesn't need to do? This is kinda been the MT theme for the past month or so:

1) recognize what's important.
2) focus on that. Don't indulge personal wants.
3) delagate everything else

Maybe starting at step one would help this person recognize the need for step 3.

Brian

US101's picture
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Thanks bflynn and Tim G. Good points about it sounding too negative and that there is actually a choice--don't do it. I like the way you re-phrased it.

Jon

Mark's picture
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Jon-

You always have a choice. You can choose to not have something done, or in the case of delegation, YOU could do it. I do some things my admin COULD do, because she hates them. That's an economically viable choice for me.

I rarely say never, but I'd never suggest with a tone of defeatism, that you're just passing something along. It's your job to "sell" stuff to your team too.

It's no fun, maybe... but that's for you to reflect on in your cube when everyone's gone... or in the car on the way home.

Don't change the approach for the garbage work. Get rid of it, or justify its need to be done professionally by taking the professional managerial approach, the MT way.

Glad you asked, and glad your fellow members are helping.

Mark