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Work Delegation Pitfalls
The February 2005 issue of
Association Management magazine, published by the
American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE) contained an
excellent article on delegation pitfalls. Here’s what ASAE lists
as 12 delegation errors.
1. Failure to identify the higher purpose served. Talk about the
value of the assignment to the organization.
2. Lack of clarity. Let the delegate know your expectations –
attach numbers where you can.
3. Failure to delegate developmentally. Provide assignments that
create stretch, but are doable, considering background and
experience.
4. Inability to anticipate radial impacts. Let others know the
impact their assignment may have on other people and
areas...before they start.
5. Assigning responsibility in excess of authority. Hold them
accountable only for things within their direct control.
6. Insistence on being an overachiever. Let go of some things
and learn to be comfortable delegating to others.
7. Emphasizing outcomes to the exclusion of method. Let others
know the parameters they must work within.
8. Facilitating deliberate redundancy. Don’t assign the same
thing to a number of folks and stir up competition. Everyone
loses.
9. Abdicating responsibility. At times you may have to step in
and handle disagreements (or worse). Do what needs to be done.
10. Failing to impose accountability. Let them know when the
buck stops at their desk.
11. Saving their bacon. Delegate consequences as well as work.
Stop being the white knight that makes the rescue.
12. Delegating to weakness. Don’t mistake enthusiasm for
competence. Give the job to someone who has a chance of
succeeding.
As upper-level administrative professionals increasingly
supervise other workers and delegate more in their work roles,
they need to beef up their delegation skills. Use these
pointers.
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