Ineffective delegation--symptom or problem

Abstract: Many supervisors have trouble delegating tasks to their staff members, for several reasons. Many feel that it is pointless to spend hours training an employee to do a task they could perform in minutes. Others suggest that delegation is ineffective as the work performed is substandard, but the delegating manager is still held responsible for the outcome. A third reason concludes that there is a certain security in being the only person who knows how to perform a particular function. Most often, however, ineffective delegation is a symptom that the manager does not have a clear understanding of his/her role, or has been inadequately prepared for the management realities of their task. Training managers who see delegation as one of a set of management tools may change thir outlook and improve their delegation process, and the quality of work delegated. (rbl)