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Bouncing Back Ezine Archives
ON DELEGATION
You can't do it all by
yourself. Don't delude yourself that it will be quicker if you just take care of
it. Maybe for today it will, but what might you fail to accomplish that is more
important? How many extra hours will you have to work? Delegate. Give direction
and guidelines, then let go. Even if others do things differently, remember that
there is usually more than one right way.
"We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who
don't...". - Frank Clark
Delegating allows others to gain needed experience and confidence. We learn by
doing. Who gave you that opportunity?
"One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."
- James Russell Lowell
Some years ago when I went to pick up my three year old from Montessori school
she was excited about something new she had learned. She could put on her heavy
winter coat all by herself. She placed the coat, button side up, on the floor
facing away from her. Leaning over, she put a hand into each sleeve and in one
quick motion hoisted the coat up over her head, the sleeves slipped up her arms
and there she stood, ready to go home, grinning with pride and new found
confidence.
Too often we underestimate what people can accomplish. We make assumptions based
on our own limitations. I knew only one way to put on a coat and my daughter
couldn't do it without struggling. With this new method she put on her coat
faster than I did mine.
If you're managing a group of people, effective delegation can build loyalty and
increase the group's skill and knowledge. It's good management. Meanwhile,
you'll be free to focus on your priorities.
If you have difficulty letting go, is it a control issue, do you lack faith in
others, or do you lack faith in your own ability to manage?
Note: Delegation is not dumping. Be sure to provide adequate information,
guidelines, and resources. Be available if guidance is needed. Conversely, don't
micromanage. If it's "your way or the highway" and you have to check on every
last detail, it isn't delegation.
What do you need to delegate? To whom? How will it help that person? How will it
help you? Do it now.
"To know and yet not to do is in fact not to know." - Wang Yang Ming
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For information on how coaching can help you or your group
stay focused and achieve goals with less anxiety and wasted
effort contact Linda Nash at
linda@lindanash.com
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©Linda
Nash
Linda
Nash is a nationally recognized consultant, speaker and author in the
areas of change and resilience. To receive her free E-zine Bouncing Back go to
www.Lindanash.com To contact Linda
call
314.872.8787 or e-mail
Linda@Lindanash.com
Bouncing Back Ezine Archives
Linda
Nash
1010 Thoreau Court, Suite 310
St. Louis, MO 63146
Ph: 314.872.8787 | 800.701.9782
linda@lindanash.com | www.LindaNash.com
Copyright 2003 by Linda Nash. All rights reserved.
You may not reproduce this material without explicit prior
written permission.