Ten Steps to Take the Work out of Work ? Replicate Yourself!

They say that management can be a lonely place. A manager has to lead from the front, make challenging demands of their people and if part of an organisation, pass on the dictats of the more senior and remote bosses up at the top.

Yet, a manager has the accountability to deliver ? in fact that's what they get paid for, so ultimately, they must be the one who puts in the most effort to make their workplace deliver, or else.

When a manager tries to delegate, their people don't always do as they wish for and sometimes that can lead to even more work. So often, managers fall back on that tried and trusted worker who they know will do it just right, at least in their eyes, because that trusted worker is themselves. And that's hard.

So, to make sure that the work they pass down to their people is delivered, there are some ways to make it happen:-

  • Agree Standards

    Standards of output and performance are vital in any organisation, business or team, yet these need to be communicated very openly to all of the people with whom managers work.

    Yet a step beyond it being a communication exercise is to have their people involved in deciding what standards operate in their team.

  • Have Clear Expectations

    When passing work on, managers need to be clear in how they express and will measure the final result. Without this, those delegated to will not have a clear measure to work towards. These expectations need to be clear on both sides and this checked closely.

  • Test Understanding

    Sometimes though, what seems to be clear is only clear on one side, that of the person passing on the job in hand. So it is very important that what they understand to be expected is also what the job 'doer' understands as well.

    Sometimes, just simply, and in a friendly way, asking for the recipient to repeat back what the expected out come measures will be is enough.

  • Show the Way

    When managers manage, except in the minority of cases, they intimidate their people. It may be they are great managers, but the role is the bit that intimidates, so their people may be reluctant to ask for help in a task they are given.

    Managers need to be aware of this and ensure that they help their people succeed by showing them the way. It may be literally showing how a taks needs to be done and the expected outcome. It may be sharing some tactics or skills.

    Not only is this likely to result in success, but it develops the culture of the team in such a way that sharing and supporting become the way things are done.

  • Seek Feedback

    When individuals take on new and often challenging tasks, they need some nurturing. By building in regular progress meetings, especially at the start of a project or delegated task, the feeling of exposure can be lessened.

    Sure people need their hands held a little, but this is not forever. As they succeed more they will learn that they 'can' and this will become less of a requirement.

  • Measure Progress

    When new tasks are taken on, it is important for a manager to show that real and vital progress is being achieved, however small or slow this is. The achievement, step-by-step is energising and those developing new skills and expertise will benefit hugely from the recognition that they are getting somewhere, wherever it is!

  • Be Available

    Getting together with your people when they are in a learning phase is important formally, yet there is also a real benefit in a manager's easy access in an ad hoc way as well.

    In fact the cultural value in their recognising when someone in the team, whilst in the learning phase especially, needs urgent support is very valuable. Clearly this needs some control, but, especially when in the early stages, it will be worth the effort.

  • Accept Failures (and Learn!)

    Sometimes things go wrong. Mistakes happen. A manager who is prepared to appreciate this is likely to get the best support from their people. Especially when asking them to take some of the load on for delivery of the high standards they expect.

    Be generous when people make mistakes in their learning and enable them to appreciate it as just that ? part of the learning experience ? and gain additional value from it.

  • Praise a Job Well Done

    When managers delegate the work they would usually do themselves, it is a calculated risk. The people they choose to develop in this way, are moving forward with their skills and experience and becoming far more valuable in the workplace ? as well as themselves getting much more from their work.

    Yet there is nothing an individual loves more than praise and 'thank you' for a job well done. It gives them a warm feeling of success and recognition and they are then ready for more!

  • Encourage Onward Delegation

    Finally, with the experience that they have been able to successfully take on a bigger role in the task they have delivered well, they can pass on this skill of being 'upgraded' to others they work with - so not only does the boss get a life, then their people start to as well.

    This is not just about delegation. It is about developing a capable bunch of people who are enhancing their skills and releasing their own potential. It works in many ways, so that everyone, as well as the boss, is a winner.

    Copyright 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, executives and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - it would be good if you could include a live link)

    ...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

    In The News:


  • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    A Sense of Humor in the Workplace ... Is it Me? Or, was that not funny?

    When I was first initiated into Corporate America, I had... Read More

    Using, Choosing, and Using an educational consultant

    IntroductionThe aim of this document is to provide advice and... Read More

    50 Great Ways to Motivate and Not Break the Bank

    Quick, Easy, and Even Fun! 1. Smile, say "Hi! How... Read More

    Workplace Security Plan: Does Your Company Have One?

    Consultant's Perspective...The threat of violence whether it emanates from a... Read More

    6 Steps to Effective Communication

    Effective leaders are known for being excellent communicators. Here's what... Read More

    The 20/60/20 Rule Of Leadership. Dont Go Solving The Wrong Problems

    Several decades ago, a passenger jet approached a Florida airport... Read More

    Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Have a Complete Agenda

    Most agendas for a meeting look like this.* Budget* Payroll*... Read More

    Organizing The Information

    Putting a piece of paper in a file folder is... Read More

    Get More Impact From Your Annual Conference

    How can you get more attention for your conference and... Read More

    Saying ?No? Gracefully to Customers and Colleagues

    Envision the scenario: You've just been asked at the last... Read More

    Running Successful Meetings - The Key Steps To Getting It Right

    We all complain about meetings which are a waste of... Read More

    Management Procedures Usability ? How to Improve

    Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations... Read More

    Boost Your Leadership Skills Simply By Answering The Question, What Does Our Organization Really...

    The difference between leaders is ears. Good leaders not only... Read More

    Just The Facts

    Attitudes are more important than facts. Dr. Karl Menninger... Read More

    Top Ten Things About Creating a Business Vision

    To visualise where you are going, is deeper and more... Read More

    How to Create an Operations Manual

    An operations manual can act as a tool for training... Read More

    A Leadership Lesson: Two Guys With Guns

    PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters... Read More

    Be a Change Agent ( Part 1)

    Aligning business organizations to be successful in the present and... Read More

    Building Bridges of Communication

    Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More

    Phone Sex is Bad for Business

    On August 3rd/2005, Reuters reported that a German man had... Read More

    You Didnt Use Brainstorming to Select Your Measures, Did You?

    IntroductionWhen Alex Osborn invented the creativity technique called brainstorming, I... Read More

    Creativity and Innovation Management ? Personality Testing

    Whilst tests measuring the creative or innovative personality exist, there... Read More

    Customer Focus - Just 5 SimpleThings You Need to Think About

    You can boil down the difference between successful businesses and... Read More

    Innovation Management ? Time to Market or Time to Success?

    Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

    The Dripping Faucet in Every Organization

    Each day millions of workers spend 8 hours or more... Read More

    Is It Worth To Outsource? How One Can Outsource Wisely

    Recent trends in software development market show that it is... Read More

    Take This Into Consideration Before You Write Your Mission Statement

    What principles should a company keep in mind when developing... Read More

    Twitch Speed: Reaching Younger Workers Who Think Differently

    Every parent, educator, and manager knows that "Nintendo children"--those born... Read More

    MANAGING CRISIS; when you?re too good at it

    When you are acclaimed for excellence during times of crisis... Read More

    Bye-Bye Boring Meetings! Make Yours Remarkable!

    It's the middle of the night. You've woken up with... Read More

    Recruitment - Do You Know What Youre Looking For?

    The time will come when you'll need to interview someone... Read More

    Setting Direction Within an Organization

    FINDING DIRECTION: An organization can't succeed without direction. Direction means... Read More

    Managing Change in the Workplace

    Change is exhilarating. Change is terrifying. Change is badly needed... Read More