Delegating Trust and Authority

Delegation requires trust and authority.

We must trust that we have adequately described the problem and the desired outcomes. We must trust that our delegates have understood us and are capable. We must trust that they have the needed resources. And we must trust ourselves that we will be able handle whatever happens–good or bad–and that we can coach them to improve.

Without this trust, our delegates lack authority. Everyone involved can sense when a delegate lacks the authority to do the work. So they back off, discount the chances of success, and withhold support. They do this because they understand that we are holding onto the authority ourselves. This makes it harder to get things done. And more often than not, we end up doing the work we had hoped to delegate.

Trust.

 

In your corner,

Mike

 

Today’s photo credit: Nguyen Hung Vu cc

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