The Hindu Business Line : Resist reverse delegation

However tantalising it may seem, resist the temptation to welcome reverse delegation, advises Delegating Work ( www.tatamcgrawhill.com). “Reverse delegation occurs when a staff member to whom you have delegated an assignment either wants to return the job to you or expects you to solve problems and make decisions,” explains the ‘pocket mentor’ publication o f Harvard Business Press with ‘expert solutions to everyday challenges.’

Rather than step in, you can use the opportunity to build trust and confidence in your employee, the book suggests.

Try, for instance, providing reinforcement for the work done so far, helping the employee assess the situation, encouraging the employee to come up with a solution, confirming your confidence in the employee’s ability to make decisions, and offering to coach for new skills required.

Reverse delegation — or allowing the ‘monkey’ to leap from your subordinate’s back to yours — can cause damage, Thomas L. Brown, the ‘mentor,’ cautions. With too many monkeys on your back, you will have little time to handle your real job.

Developing your subordinates’ initiative can help you avoid accumulating monkeys.

“For example, when an employee tries to hand you a problem, clarify whether he should recommend and implement a solution, take action, and then brief you immediately, or act and report the outcome at a regular update.”
When you thus encourage your staff to handle their own monkeys, you not only liberate time for your job, but also let your people acquire new skills.
One simple tip for bosses who want to return monkeys to the rightful owners is to make appointments for monkey talk! “Avoid discussing any monkey on an ad hoc basis — for example, when you pass a subordinate in the hallway.”
Great read.

D. MURALI
BookPeek.blogspot.com

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