Delegate or not delegate… or teach!

As an experienced digital product manager, I can tell you that every management book out there tells us to delegate. But let’s be honest. Delegation doesn’t always work. In fact, it can often lead to failure in product organizations. So why is that?

Well, when you delegate tasks, you’re essentially giving someone else the responsibility to complete them. But what happens when that person doesn’t have the necessary skills or experience to carry out the task successfully? It can result in subpar work, missed deadlines, and unhappy clients.

That’s why delegation is not a silver bullet for a product management team. Instead, I’ve found that teaching can be a much more effective approach. By teaching your team members how to complete tasks, you’re not only ensuring that the work is done to the highest standard, but you’re also building their skills and capabilities.

Now, I know what you might be thinking — teaching takes time and effort, and it can be difficult to fit into a busy work schedule. But trust me, the benefits are worth it. By investing in teaching, you’re creating a learning organization that is constantly improving and growing. And as your team members become more skilled, they’ll be able to take on bigger and more complex tasks, ultimately improving your product development process.