How to Delegate Effectively
"Lions cannot afford to hunt mice because they literally will starve to
death, even if they catch them. Lions and all large carnivores have to
hunt game large enough to justify the investment, so they have to hunt
antelope and zebra. Why is this important? Because most senior executives
are really big on chipmunks."
-- Newt Gingrich
Managers who feel like they spend all their time going from one crisis to the next are probably failing to delegate effectively. When we mainly focus on the fires in our inboxes, we are reacting--not leading. Delegation requires an investment of time to ensure your direct reports have the tools, guidance, and skills they need to accomplish the task. This enables them to take on greater responsibility which, in turn, will free you to focus more time on high-value issues such as strategic thinking, planning, and supporting professional development for your team.
Articles
- Delegation and Time Management, by Don Jacobson
Why Managers Must Learn to Delegate Effectively in Order to Lead.
- Don’t Do What Others Could Do – Lessons for Delegation and Authority, from TheMilitaryLeader.com
Outlines Michael Hyatt's "5 Imperatives of Delegation."
- Resisting the Sirens of Micromanagement, by Bob Behn
Pithy column about why executives need to get over the need to prove they are the smartest person in the room.
- Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey, by William Oncken
Classic article about delegation from the Harvard Business Review.
Books
If You Want It Done Right, You Don't Have to Do It Yourself!
Delegating Effectively: A Leader's Guide to Getting Things Done
The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
Do you work harder than your staff? Do many of the tasks you delegate go unfinished? If so, then this book is for you. Based on William Oncken's classic Harvard Business Review article "Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?," The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey provides a clear model for delegation that focuses on ensuring the task is understood and increases the likelihood that it will be completed. Read More...