Last week I described delegation, which is entrusting a task or responsibility to another person. Delegation is a central leadership skill. (If you need a refresher on the six steps in delegation, it’s archived on my website and there’s the link.) The fifth step is the hand-off, establishing a reporting system and communication process. Space constraints did not allow me to detail the “invisible” next step between the hand-off and the follow-up, saving it for a dedicated post today. It’s a paradox, because the next step is to do (apparently) nothing! As the leader who delegated the assignment, your next challenge is to stand back and stay back so that the person to whom you delegated the task can wade into the responsibility and give it their best shot, without you hovering over their shoulder.

Food for Thought ~

Are you able to “stand back” after you delegate? Have you developed your skill at delegation so that you can hand-off a task or responsibility with confidence that it will be done well?

Question for the day ~

Are you able to “stand back” after you delegate? Have you developed your skill at delegation so that you can hand-off a task or responsibility with confidence that it will be done well?

In Closing ~

People are still reading my new article in the NorthBay Business Journal about skill, the third cornerstone of business success, “Building a team that can execute a plan.” If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, please click here.

Mary