“I don’t understand. Delegation saves time,” Julio puzzled.
“Yes, but let’s change the leverage point,” I replied. “Instead of thinking about the benefits to you, as a manager, what are the benefits to the person you delegate to?”
Julio was thinking. He nodded. “Well, they will be able to take on more responsibility?”
“Okay, but how does that benefit the team member?”
“They may learn something new. Gain a new skill. Try something they have never tried before. It might lay the groundwork for a promotion.”
“And if they are successful at this new skill, how much time will that save you?” I asked.
Julio sat back. Chuckling. “If they really learn it, could save me a hundred hours.”
“And that’s the leverage I am talking about. You work for one hour, get a hundred hours of productivity.”
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Working Leadership Online
April 6 – Delegation Skills – Ultimate Leverage
Register today.
Apr 27 – Control Systems and Feedback Loops
May 18 – Managing Time – Managing Yourself
Jun 8 – Team Problem Solving – Power of Team
Just because you take the time to delegate doesn’t mean it will be successful unless you have established that this person you are delegating to, has the capability of being able to learn and then execute whatever it is you are spending the time to teach them…?
Suzanne,
You are absolutely correct. The first delegation meeting is just the beginning. There is a precise platform for a successful delegation. Happens to be our next Subject Area in Working Leadership Online.
It’s too bad that too many managers do not think of empowering their associates