Delegation Tips (Part 2)

• Delegation helps people grow underneath you in an organization and thus pushes you even higher in management. It provides you with more time, and you will be able to take on higher priority projects.
• Delegate whole pieces or entire job pieces rather than simply tasks and activities.
  Clearly define what outcome is needed, then let individuals use some creative thinking of their own as to how to get to that outcome.
• Clearly define limits of authority that go with the delegated job. Can the person hire other people to work with them? Are there spending constraints?
  Clear standards of performance will help the person know when he or she is doing exactly what is expected.
• When on the receiving end of delegation, work to make your boss' job easier and to get the boss promoted. This will enhance your promotability also.
  Assess routine activities in which you are involved. Can any of them be eliminated or delegated?
  Never underestimate a person's potential. Delegate slightly more than you think the person is capable of handling. Expect them to succeed, and you will be pleasantly surprised more frequently than not.
• Expect completed staff work from the individuals reporting to you. That is, they will come to you giving you alternatives and suggestions when a problem exists rather than just saying "Boss, what should we do?"
• Do not avoid delegating something because you cannot give someone the entire project. Let the person start with a bite size piece, then after learning and doing that, they can accept larger pieces and larger areas of responsibility.
• Agree on a monitoring or measurement procedure that will keep you informed as to progress on this project because you are ultimately still responsible for it and need to know that it is progressing as it should. In other words-If you can't measure it don't delegate it.
• Keep your mind open to new ideas and ways of doing things. There just might be a better way than the way something has previously been done.

Inspiration Corner

Blurred Vision
A businessman was highly critical of his competitors' storefront windows. "Why, they are the dirtiest windows in town," he claimed. Fellow business people grew tired of the man's continual criticism and nitpicking comments about the windows. One day over coffee, the
businessman carried the subject just too far. Before leaving, a fellow store owner suggested the man get his own windows washed. He followed the advice, and the next day at coffee, he exclaimed, "I can't believe it. As soon as I washed my windows, my competitor must have cleaned his too. You should see them shine."
Confucius once declared, "Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your own doorstep is unclean."

Delegation Tips (Part 1)

Derived from Latin, delegate means "to send from." When delegating you are sending the work "from" you "to" someone else. Effective delegation will not only give you more time to work on your important opportunities, but you will also help others on your team learn new skills.
Delegation helps people grow underneath you in an organization and thus pushes you even higher in management. It provides you with more time, and you will be able to take on higher priority projects.

• Delegate whole pieces or entire job pieces rather than simply tasks and activities.
  Clearly define what outcome is needed, then let individuals use some creative thinking of their own as to how to get to that outcome.
• Clearly define limits of authority that go with the delegated job. Can the person hire other people to work with them? Are there spending constraints?
• Clear standards of performance will help the person know when he or she is doing exactly what is expected.
• When on the receiving end of delegation, work to make your boss' job easier and to get the boss promoted. This will enhance your promotability also.

Inspiration Corner

Winners versus Losers
The Winner is always a part of the answer;The Loser is always a part of the problem.
The Winner always has a program;The Loser always has an excuse.
The Winner says, "Let me do it for you;"The Loser says, "That's not my job."
The Winner sees an answer for every problem;The Loser sees a problem in every answer.
The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it's possible;"The Loser says, "It may be possible but it's too difficult."