From the Ask Tom mailbag:
Question:
I have a manager whose gifts are with task management. Unfortunately, her task lists are quite extensive. I find the tasks assigned are time appropriate, there are just too many of them. I believe this is an underlying cause of increased disciplinary actions toward our employees and am taking measures to correct. Have you seen this situation before?
Response:
Are you asking if, sometimes, we give people too many tasks to do and then beat up on them when they fail to bring everything in on time?
Just because a supervisor can put (40) one-hour tasks on a list does not mean a great week’s schedule has been created.
Your question is really one of accountability for the goal. In your crazy disciplinary action scenario, you appear to be overlooking the real culprit and going for the scapegoat.
Whose goal is it? that is being assigned? We miss this all the time. The goals (tasks) being assigned by your supervisor are the supervisor’s goals. If the goal is not achieved, it is the supervisor that I go looking for.
“The goals besing assigned are your supervisors goals”
Have seen that all the time.
Many managers are fans of the 2 do lists. every morning they give their team a 2 do list of check boxes. I often ask why does your team need a check list that you create? the answer is never a really decent one. Usually it is something like “if I do not give them the list they will not accomplish anything”
This immediately creates this scape goat you spoke of.
Mike,
Thanks for jumping into the conversation. Delegation is often seen as offloading. Offloading a list is even more efficient. Not effective, but efficient. Keep in touch. -TF
There are too many times that the manager assigning the tasks are usually the best person to do that task and carry the same expectations of the task completion as if they were doing the work. It is unfair and unrealistic. A good manager is a good teacher who knows who to work their associates to achieve it’s goals.