Does the word accountability bring to mind uncomfortable images and words such as: Holding someone’s feet to the fire Watching over someone’s shoulder Pressuring, pushing, prying, or punishing If so, this 2 minute video is for you!
Delegating focuses the right people on the right things. It also helps employees to grow. But it is hard. Why? Three reasons: it involves trust or the lack of it, it creates fear of poor outcomes, and it requires clarity. As a result, we typically resort to one of three approaches: “It’s easier to do it myself,” which neither frees us to do more suitable tasks, nor gives employees the opportunity to grow “I must learn to delegate so here goes,” and then we throw the task over the wall with gritted teeth, crossed fingers, and little faith We delegate and micromanage, driving everyone nuts All of these approaches are unproductive, ridiculous, and unnecessary.
The cause of impatience is a lack of progress. Here are three tips for improving your patience before you drive yourself and the other person crazy! Remind yourself that the other person is not you and most of what you think you know about that person is an assumption. Skill, knowledge, and attitude are invisible, so any conclusions you draw about those are suspect. Pay attention only to observable behavior and its consequences. Focus on the other person’s needs. What don’t they know or understand? Where are the obstacles? Work with him to remove the barriers. Break desired outcomes into intermediate outcomes – concrete next steps. Both of you will feel better when you can see real progress.
How do you feel about the deadlines in your job? Some of you have no deadlines, just scheduled failures. You have my sympathy. Some of you have forgiving, floating, feel-good fancies. But no drop dead pressure. You are either the boss, self-employed, or overlooked. Some of you are lucky. You have deadlines that spur you to new heights. You have challenges that energize. You are neither buried, nor left to sleep in. You get to play in the pasture of proud productivity. Enjoy it!