“Have you ever noticed that the week before you go on vacation is the week from hell?” I asked.
Marissa nodded.
“Why is it the week from hell?”
“There is always so much to do that I can never get it all done.”
“Think about what else is different about that week,” I prodded.
Marissa smiled, “That’s the one week that I actually sit down and plan everything out. I delegate all kinds of things that I never delegate, and there are some things that I know that just won’t get done. That’s the hardest part.”
“Do those things ever get done, like when you come back?”
“Now, that I think about, no. Those things never get done. The only things that get done are the really important things,” she replied.
“Those things that are necessary.”
Can’t agree with you more, Tom!
The week before vacation is hard – when I try to get as many of outstanding things done, plus finding out what all things I can delegate/keep pending. These thoughts linger on into the first 1 – 2 days of the vacation 🙂
Tom,
This recent series of posts have had me paying attention. As I sit here with a large to-do list (because i have some free time) that covers all those things that never got done when I was busy.
Although I am curious about what things are deemed important. Wouldn’t the idea of “important” work be subjective to the leader who is delegating.
For example – I used to work for an organization (I was the Director of Training) I felt that it was important for me to develop training programs, record data assessements of trainings, network and speak at local organizations to increase participants that attended our training etc..
My boss felt that it was important for me to do things that were not what I mentioned above. He would delegate these long “task” lists with things like cleaning, and maintenance tasks (I know confusing right). Although he felt that stuff on the list was important.
So the idea of delegation of what is important – who dictates that?
One of the lessons I learned about delegation is…the event that prompts us to delegate, vacation in this case, is not the event that allows us to train on receiving the delegation. There is no time. Consequently, delegation becomes ineffective. We have all been in this situation. And, as Suresh has commented, it is no fun! To avoid this in the future, pick a time to “introduce” delegation when the pressure isn’t so great. You will become good at it and your employees will “expect” it, so that it becomes a regular part of your management style. Consequently, the crunch time at vacation will be less and you may be able to leave lingering thoughts in the office and enjoy the sun!
Talking about vacation, a manager with his/her own time span actually doesn’t deserve vacation for his/her own tasks. Being hold accountable for task will require 24/7 efforts even in his/her vacation or the task is being delegated to the subordinate.