Pass It On! (Art of Delegation)

Pass It On!After conducting an exhaustive search, I was unable to locate a how-to-guide for managers that leads me to conclude there is no wonder that so many struggle with the ability to manage and lead. There is a plethora of articles with opinions on what makes a successful manager and the different aspects of managing. All differ slightly in what is the most important facet of managing and on how to be a manager, but there was a commonality in some of the steps or considerations. There are many characteristic of managing, and managers play an integral role in the success of a business. The establishment of tiers or rungs on the corporate ladder provides a centralized chain of command in which a level of responsibility and function is established. Many tools exist to lessen the burdens on a manager and to make the position and the person who holds the position more effective.

[Patsy Donovan, Red Sox manager (baseball)] (LOC)

[Connie Mack, Philadelphia Athletics manager (base...

Delegates

One such tool is delegation through which managers are able to increase their productivity by simply giving employees authority for predetermined tasks or assignments without managerial micromanaging. As indicated by Fracaro (2004), there are indicators that determine the need for delegation and the steps to take in the delegation process. It would be incumbent on the manager to determine, if, delegation would be beneficial and how to implement it. The power of delegation can transform an office of individuals into a team with a sense of direction and ownership. An important factor of delegation is that the delegate is not totally without supervision or direction. If problems or issues arise, the manager must be available to provide guidance and/or shift focus.

A manager should not attempt to accomplish the work of everyone in his or her section; this does not encourage growth for the employee...