Have you ever had that boss who constantly stands over you wondering what you’re doing. “How’s that project coming, Sally? Do you have some numbers for me to look at, Bob? When will I see results, Lucy?” Hover, hover, hover, until you want to scream, “You might have some numbers if you’d leave me the hell alone for five minutes!”
Delegation isn’t about farming out duties just because. It’s about dividing both work load and responsibilities so everyone is contributing to the success of the whole. And in that vane, delegation also means trusting those you delegate jobs to will do the jobs as requested.
Of course, if something doesn’t get done on time, to the right expectations, etc. you have a duty as a leader to gently point that out and require more attention to detail or accountability in the future. I’m not saying you should walk away from delegated projects without having any accountability still on yourself. But the main point is this: quit hovering. It makes people nervous and makes us want to slap you in the face.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
oh how I wish I could anonymously give this to my boss!