WHY Aren’t YOU Delegating?
Although it takes time initially to delegate responsibility, in the long run it will save time. The activities of daily living in a household or office are parceled out so that everyone works together to ensure a smoothly flowing home or office.
A century ago, all family members had to work together just to survive. From plowing, planting, harvesting, spinning, weaving and sewing, everybody pitched in and did their share of the work at the level at which they were capable. The children, adults and grandparents worked together for the common goal of survival.
In today’s society, everyone rushes out the door to his or her own pursuits leaving breakfast dishes undone and beds unmade. Parents find themselves staying up late night after night to finish one more load of laundry, fix one more broken screen, unload the dishwasher, prepare clothes for the following day, pack lunches. If both parents work outside of the home, the tasks are multiplied even more. They feel like they need ten more sets of hands to complete all that needs to be done.
At work, there are phone calls, reports, meetings and an endless array of tasks to do each day. The day flies by and one senses that almost nothing was accomplished.
What is the solution? Delegation of responsibility!
Research has shown that if we learn how to delegate and practice delegation, we would be able to accomplish more each day!
What is Delegation?
To appoint and assign responsibility is to delegate. We often don’t delegate even one small task as we try to do it all ourselves and then complain about how much we have to do.
Delegation of tasks within the family helps bring the family home again as they work together to survive in this busy world. In the office, it is called team building — working together. Children and adults, alike, feel a part of something larger than themselves when work is shared!
By delegating increasingly more difficult and complex tasks over the years from toddlerhood to the young adult years, our children are learning skills they will need for the rest of their lives. In the office, a newbie is taught the basics and an increasing number of tasks are delegated as skill levels rise. The same principles of delegation apply at home and at work.
Are you delegating appropriately at home?
Are you delegating at work?
Why We Don’t Delegate
According to James M. Jenks and John M. Kelly in the book, Don’t Do, Delegate!, the following are some excuses we use when we fail to delegate responsibility at home and at work:
* I can do it better.
* I can do it correctly.
* I want to keep it simple.
* I want to keep my hand in.
* I want the credit.
* I’m afraid it will fail if I don’t do it.
* I don’t want to appear lazy.
* I’m not a tyrant.
Notice that the first word in each excuse is the word “I”. We, for whatever reasons, want to do everything ourselves. Perhaps we fear that the loss of control may result in something terrible happening. Why not be brave . . . consider delegating and become more effective!
Why aren’t you delegating?
Tasks we can Delegate — at Home and at Work
1. Routine Work: Our time is often filled with routine work which could be done by someone else. Home examples: dusting, washing dishes. Office example: filing.
2. Necessary Work: At home and at work, there are many necessary tasks, yet do we need to be the ones to do them all? Home example: feeding the pets. Office example: telephone calls to verify appointments.
3. Trivial Work: Many of our tasks seem trivial but are very important for the smooth running of a household or office. Some can be delegated. Home example: putting silverware away. Office example: opening mail.
4. Specialty Work: Why do we insist on doing tasks which the experts can do in a more time-efficient manner? Sometimes it is more cost effective to hire work done. Home example: carpet cleaning. Office example: tax preparation (if you own your own business).
5. Chores: This group of activities includes all of those tasks which are that, a real chore for us to do. There is no need to feel guilty passing a chore along to someone else. That person may thoroughly enjoy it. Home examples: wash the car, mow the lawn. Office example: make the coffee.
Let’s delegate!
Just think how much MORE we will accomplish!
Dawn Ulmer is the author of “Balance for the Hurried Woman” and ‘Reflections of God’s Glory’.
