There is this mantra in corporate America that has gained momentum over the years which says that the ability to delegate is a primary cornerstone of good management skills. But I think its endorsements have run away with only one side of the story. Over and over again we hear how being a good manager is equivalent to being a good “delegator.” The problem is that the basic concept of delegation assumes that managers have access to enough talent that work can sufficiently be “handed off” without worry. But this is not realistic. In actuality, managers hesitate to relinquish responsibility of the work for which they are ultimately accountable, because in the end, it is they who are measured, penalized or rewarded for the output of their departments. If the members of their teams aren’t equipped (for whatever reason) with what it takes to get the job done “right”, then managers should be given the latitude to make the decisions pertaining to who does what without getting dinged on their performance reviews. If it turns out that a manager can’t manage the talent and skills on his or her team and figure out a way to maximize people’s strengths, then it's time to find a new manager.
By no stretch am I am suggesting that employees should not be given a chance to learn and grow by having opportunities to do things at which they may not be experts. But rather, I am saying that when the pressure is on, sometimes it makes sense to “do it yourself.” And that’s not a bad thing.
The Pitfalls of Delegation - To learn more about this author, visit Donna Flagg's Website.
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Donna Flagg
(Visit Donna's Website)
Donna Flagg spent 15 years in sales,
management and training before becoming a
consultant specializing in organizational
development and its relationship to
business results. Her management career
began in sales at CHANEL, and before
branching out on her own to launch
Krysalis, she spearheaded a new training
function within the Investment Banking
Division at Goldman Sachs.
After earning a BA from Rutgers University
and gaining experience on the front lines
of Corporate America, Donna went on to
attend New York University’s Graduate
School of Education where she obtained a
Masters Degree in Organizational
Development and Human Resource Management,
and a post graduate degree in Business
Education. She has also been a visiting
instructor and speaker at New York
University through Delta Pi Epsilon. In
addition, she speaks at various
conferences including those conducted by
The Business Leadership Network and The
Conference Board.
Donna is currently a blogger on
ExpertBusinessSource.com and frequently
quoted in the press for her workplace
expertise. She has also been a guest on
The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Life’s
Work with Lisa Belkin and The Joan Hamburg
Show.
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