Right now, there is light at the end of this global pandemic tunnel. More and more people are getting vaccinated. Leadership teams are starting to think this could be the beginning of the end. They are hopeful for the first time in quite a while. Still, they are being conservative in the amount of risk they want to take on. They want to be certain that the worst days are behind us.
During recent executive coaching sessions, many leaders are asking me what they should be focused on during the next three months. And my answer has been direct and definitive: better delegation.
There is only so much a leader, manager or supervisor can do each day. With limited time and multiple problems before them, the common choice is to either work all day and all night, or to delegate certain issues and problems to others to solve. The difficulty for all involved is that most people in leadership and management positions are not very good at delegation. They did not have a class or a coach to help them with this subject.
When I teach people to delegate, I remind them that the dictionary definition of delegation is “the transferring of authority and responsibility from one person to another in order to carry out a specific activity.” The challenge is the person receiving the “authority and responsibility” may not have the capacity to do what is expected of them. Therefore, I suggest the person delegating “a specific activity” start by asking the following important questions.
First, do you understand the problem? Remember: awareness is not understanding.
Second, do you know what I want done? If the answer is not concise and specific, e.g. 35 words or less, then there will be problems during execution.
Third, do you have the authority to do it successfully? Commitment without understanding is a problem. Responsibility without choice is also a problem.
Fourth, do you know how to do it? Having the right knowledge and skills will make a difference.
Fifth, do you know how to measure progress and/or success? Being able to gauge progress builds confidence and better outcomes.
Sixth, do you know what difference it will make when the specific, delegated activity is done correctly? Knowing how our work will impact others makes us feel needed and reminds us that our work matters.
The road ahead will continue to be difficult. Yet, through improved delegation, we can create better results for all involved. This is the week to start asking the above questions if we truly want to create a better future for all of us.
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