Take the Easy Route - Delegate

It was 2.30 am. It was cold and dark and I'd been in bed for just a half hour when the phone rang.

"Alarm Centre here, are you the keyholder at Balham Store, in a lively(!) south London suburb. Grumpily, I replied in the affirmative. My wife didn't even stir.

"The alarm has gone off and will need your attendance - when will you be there?" I told them that it would take me 40 minutes or so. The 45 miles through the empty streets would not take the 90 minutes typical during the morning and evening rush hour.

I grudgingly got up and put my clothes on, vaguely aware that I had only been in from the neighbours Christmas party for a short time - and not entirely clear how much I had drunk at all, but it would be close.

About 10 minutes into the drive, the car hit a patch of black ice and slid down a 12 foot bank into a field. It was bumpy, but amazingly, nothing was damaged, except for a few scratches. Even I was OK. Indeed, it sobered me up pretty darned quickly. As pure chance would have it, I was in a field where there was a gate about 200 yards away which would get me back onto the road.

Quickly, I opened the gate and drove through, up to the Store and did my duty.

Over the next three months, I made sure that my recruitment process brought in some key people who would be able to deputise for me. It was no way for me to be, driving in at all hours. That wasn't my role. My role was to manage the business, drive strategy and change and above all, grow profit. I couldn't do that unexpected driving in at all hours. And ending up in a field. And luckily surviving.

In that moment I understood the value of delegation and getting a team in, to work right by me with everyone doing what each of us did best. With some of them living nearby. I knew my place.

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com

...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

---

Four Employee Behaviors That Can Kill Your Business

I found it important to clarify for employees what "deal-breaker" behavior was at my company. These are the things I insisted would not be tolerated and would... Read More

Delegation - The Basic Steps To Reducing Your Workload And Creating A Successful Team

If you have a task greater than you can handle on your own, then you need to delegate. Not a choice many of us choose to make,... Read More

Discover the Astonishing Power of Words Today!

Picture all the people you know who are dynamic, successful and self-confident. The ones who are the stars of every gathering. The people who are witty, intelligent... Read More

Get Down With OCP: Evaluating DBA Job Applicants in an OCP World

Not long ago, weeding through DBA applicants with a tech interview was a straightforward process. You'd ask candidates 200 or so technical questions. If they got 100... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: The Organizational Structure of Our Growing Business

This article relates to the organizational structure competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. It shows how structural concerns can affect the typical employee workday, as well... Read More

Behavioral Interview Questions You Can Use Monday Morning

If past behavior is the best way to determine future behavior then behavioral interviewing is a requirement for anyone serious about hiring top talent. This skill isn't... Read More

Let the Intern Do It - Affordable Help for Your Business

Do you have more projects than time? Help might be as close as your nearest college. Many have intern programs, where students complete tasks for businesses as... Read More

Entitlement Programs Kill Productivity

In articles I've written over the years, I have used "laissez-faire," a term more frequently used to characterize governments than businesses, to describe a rather laid-back management... Read More

Growing Profits is Easy!

Everyone involved in running a business from the smallest start-up to a major corporate dreams about how to achieve sustained profitable growth. I'm a great believer that... Read More

Joint Accountability: Another Key for Your Effectiveness

I once was part of a group of management professors who often taught in executive development seminars. Other non-management professors in the school ran these. Occasionally these... Read More

Credibility - A Golden Key to Becoming More Influential

You have been named a new leader in your organization, or you are a long time leader with some new people in your organization. Or maybe you... Read More

Turbo-Charge Your Rollout with ERM

Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure of a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) initiative. But employees don't always resist new ways of doing business.... Read More

The Power of the Contract in Performance Management

An essential step in managing the performance of salespeople is that of establishing a sound and agreed contract between manager and the salesperson. A contract in this... Read More

What to Do When Trust is Low

Trust is essential. You can't run a business without it. Customers leave. Risk taking evaporates. You find yourself surrounded by naysayers ? or worse ? yes men... Read More

Dont Take New Hires for Granted

Hiring good people is only half the battle. The other half is keeping them, especially in a relatively strong economy where quality people are difficult to attract.Let's... Read More

Problem Solving - Think Cleopatras Ass

Picture the scene. Anthony pops down to the guardhouse, partly because he wants a break with the lads, but also because he has a problem. Cleopatra says... Read More

Ten Relationship Traits And Skills For Good Leadership

An important aspect of good leadership is the ability to work and relate with others. When creating and building your unique leadership style consistently developing relational skills... Read More

The Power of Positive Communication

Communication is the key to your success at work, at play, and at home. Here are six tips that will make a difference in your life:1) People... Read More

Building Bridges of Communication

Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is fundamental if your business communication is to succeed. If you are a consultant to a client,... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines:Choosing an Effective Employee Recognition Program

This article relates to the Recognition competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. It tells the story of how one company found the right recognition program by... Read More

Time Management and Team Development - The Yes and No of It

Sometimes.In fact making some small changes to the circumstances when we use these two little words, can make all the difference. And it takes practice.Saying 'Yes' More......brings... Read More

The Golden Key to Meeting Success

We all attend many meetings. I'm sure you have been to some great meetings and some poor ones. Unfortunately for everyone I've ever talked to, the number... Read More

The Dripping Faucet in Every Organization

Each day millions of workers spend 8 hours or more at their respective jobs with many contributing to the dripping faucet within every organization. This faucet much... Read More

Outsourcing NOT Just for Big Business

Outsourcing has become a controversial issue and a hot topic among presidential candidates this year. But have you stopped to think how your business can benefit from... Read More

Benefits of Virtual Assistance

A virtual assistant is an individual who provides business services to other professionals. They're considered virtual because they perform their services from a remote location. Communications with... Read More

Employees - Treat Them the Way They Expect to be Treated

When you have to deal with one of your team who's complaining to you, rather than allowing your negative programmes to take over, get your thinking part... Read More