Insights for Leaders

The Art of Delegating

Posted on: March 12th, 2006 | 0 Comments

“No person will make a business great who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit.”  –  Andrew Carnegie

Management guru Peter Drucker wrote, “Delegation requires clear assignment of a specific task, clear definition of the expected results and a deadlineAbove all it requires that the subordinate to whom it is delegated keep the boss fully informed.  It is the subordinate’s job to alert the boss immediately to any possible ‘surprise’.”

Common pitfalls: 1.) Abidicating responsbility.  Successful business founder/CEO Robert Half wrote, “Delegating works provided the one delegating works too.”  2.) Interferance.  President Ronald Reagan said, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere.”

The Bottom Line: Leaders exponentially multiply their impact by delegating authority, staying fully informed but not interfering.


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