Nov13

Delegation: Will You Have More Time Then?

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One of the problems I see and have seen in every organization at every level is a very human one. It’s the problem of delegation. Most folks don’t know when to do it. They don’t let go soon enough.

What seems to happen in most cases is that we get working so hard that we find ourselves entrenched in too much work and too much stress. Long before we realize,.we have started to work from one minute to the next. Forward thinking, planning into the future gives way to those critical tasks that must be accomplished each day.

We are in tactics mode. Strategy is gone completely by then. Our to-do lists are managing our time, not the other way around.

When someone says get some help, the reply often is “I don’t have time to teach a person what we’re doing.”

STOP! When you hear yourself say that, stop. Think. Will you have more time in three weeks to teach someone? If the answer is no, take the time to teach someone now. Then in the next two weeks after he or she knows what you’re doing, you’ll not only catch up, but you’ll have another trained person who can move the project along.

Seriously. Stop to do that now.

Behind every Successful business is an Outstanding Manager – Perfect Virtual Manager

Liz

 

  • http://managetochange.typepad.com ann michael

    Liz – to make matters worse, the busy that don’t delegate are often a bit of perfectionists and control freaks too (in a good way). Doing something themselves doesn’t just mean that it’s done “faster” (not always) but also means it’s done just right – as THEY define just right.

    When you give something to someone it becomes theirs – they may very well get the job done differently than you would (which is a learning opportunity for all involved). They might also not get the job done (i.e., get the desired result) just right the first time. That’s ok too. It’s part of learning.

    Great post!

  • http://managetochange.typepad.com ann michael

    Liz – to make matters worse, the busy that don’t delegate are often a bit of perfectionists and control freaks too (in a good way). Doing something themselves doesn’t just mean that it’s done “faster” (not always) but also means it’s done just right – as THEY define just right.

    When you give something to someone it becomes theirs – they may very well get the job done differently than you would (which is a learning opportunity for all involved). They might also not get the job done (i.e., get the desired result) just right the first time. That’s ok too. It’s part of learning.

    Great post!

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    Thanks Ann,
    You’d be great at the corporate training side of the Perfect Virtual Manager. This one of the points that so needs to be explained. Most folks I have trained find it a new concept and totally fascinating — once they get past their fear, they enjoy the wonder of seeing how delegation can work to bring new life and a whole set of ideas to a project.

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    Thanks Ann,
    You’d be great at the corporate training side of the Perfect Virtual Manager. This one of the points that so needs to be explained. Most folks I have trained find it a new concept and totally fascinating — once they get past their fear, they enjoy the wonder of seeing how delegation can work to bring new life and a whole set of ideas to a project.

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