Comments on: Most misunderstood aspect of delegating at work http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:10:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: kevin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-71122 kevin Tue, 15 May 2007 01:25:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-71122 As a small business owner I find that I delegate based on these rules. 1. If it's something that directly affects the bottom line, I do it. This includes product development, marketing, and tactical and strategic planning. Because I know my vision I steer the ship on these issues. 2. If it's something I'm not particularly skilled at I find someone else to do it. That person will finish the task quicker, do a better job, and probably most important won't get frustrated (because of their knowledge of the task) and ruin productive time. I don't think you should delegate tasks based on their perceived "crapiness". Each person should work towards their strengths. If you do this your team, office, business etc will become more efficient and more profitable. If somebody wants to be trained in a different area than do it, but when it's crunch time I don't want my star quarterback returning kicks. As a small business owner I find that I delegate based on these rules.

1. If it’s something that directly affects the bottom line, I do it. This includes product development, marketing, and tactical and strategic planning. Because I know my vision I steer the ship on these issues.

2. If it’s something I’m not particularly skilled at I find someone else to do it. That person will finish the task quicker, do a better job, and probably most important won’t get frustrated (because of their knowledge of the task) and ruin productive time.

I don’t think you should delegate tasks based on their perceived “crapiness”. Each person should work towards their strengths. If you do this your team, office, business etc will become more efficient and more profitable. If somebody wants to be trained in a different area than do it, but when it’s crunch time I don’t want my star quarterback returning kicks.

]]> By: Brandon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-32146 Brandon Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:03:59 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-32146 Yep.... If you delegate all your important work to your subordinates, then how can you survive in the company as your employees do most of the important work ? Are you still important in the group? Yep…. If you delegate all your important work to your subordinates, then how can you survive in the company as your employees do most of the important work ? Are you still important in the group?

]]> By: Suzie Bradley http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-32140 Suzie Bradley Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:47:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-32140 What if after delegating important work to someone, you get into trouble. Some very ambitious person may decide that she/he can do your job better and present claims to your boss to get your position. Isn't it risky to delegate important parts of the work to your reports. <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <em>Thanks for this excellent question, Suzie. The point here is to delegate so that you can do something bigger picture than the work sitting on your plate. If you cannot think in a big picture way once the work is off your plate, then there is no reason to delegate it in the first place. But the only way to learn to think big-picture is to take the risk and delegate the daily stuff.</em><em>Also, something to think about: If the person you delegate to is better at doing your job than you are, why not give your job to that person and work on figuring out which job you would be great at? Why hold on to a job you're not great at doing? We all deserve to be great, and we can only be great if we are catering to our strengths. --Penelope </em> What if after delegating important work to someone, you get into trouble. Some very ambitious person may decide that she/he can do your job better and present claims to your boss to get your position. Isn’t it risky to delegate important parts of the work to your reports.

* * * * * *

Thanks for this excellent question, Suzie. The point here is to delegate so that you can do something bigger picture than the work sitting on your plate. If you cannot think in a big picture way once the work is off your plate, then there is no reason to delegate it in the first place. But the only way to learn to think big-picture is to take the risk and delegate the daily stuff.Also, something to think about: If the person you delegate to is better at doing your job than you are, why not give your job to that person and work on figuring out which job you would be great at? Why hold on to a job you’re not great at doing? We all deserve to be great, and we can only be great if we are catering to our strengths.

–Penelope

]]> By: Anuradha http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1102 Anuradha Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:54:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1102 Great post! Effective delegation in not just about "taking it off your plate", but "what you put into the others' plates!" Great post! Effective delegation in not just about “taking it off your plate”, but “what you put into the others’ plates!”

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1101 Wendy Sat, 14 Oct 2006 21:59:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1101 Good posts on delegating. One thing I'd add: one person's "crap job" can be another's favourite task, or another's great opportunity. For example, I research and write for a living, but am not skilled at making my documents look good -- the desktop publishing side. For me, that's a "crap job." In my previous job, I used to delegate that whenever possible. An admin assistant with an artistic flare would welcome the opportunity to be creative (rather than just be typing someone's letter, which was her main duty). Working with my documents helped two different admin assistants to move into marketing materials preparation roles, which they preferred. Good posts on delegating. One thing I’d add: one person’s “crap job” can be another’s favourite task, or another’s great opportunity.

For example, I research and write for a living, but am not skilled at making my documents look good — the desktop publishing side. For me, that’s a “crap job.” In my previous job, I used to delegate that whenever possible. An admin assistant with an artistic flare would welcome the opportunity to be creative (rather than just be typing someone’s letter, which was her main duty). Working with my documents helped two different admin assistants to move into marketing materials preparation roles, which they preferred.

]]> By: Diana http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1100 Diana Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:01:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/14/most-misunderstood-aspect-of-delegating-at-work/#comment-1100 Thank you for the detailed response. You make a very good point... well, all your points are good in all your blog posts, but this one was especially good because it answered questions I didn't even think to ask. Thank you for the detailed response. You make a very good point… well, all your points are good in all your blog posts, but this one was especially good because it answered questions I didn’t even think to ask.

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