By Tom Sponsel, CPA/ABV, CFF
Managing Partner
Every good manager knows that the key to improving productivity is to hire talented people with skill sets that are commensurate with the needs of the workforce. But as a business grows and more managers are necessary to supervise a larger number of employees, breakdowns can sometimes occur when it comes to delegating responsibility.
Good delegation requires adequate orientation to the task or duty, timely follow-up, meeting deadlines and holding the delegate accountable for the quality of the project. Where managers become frustrated is when they do not see the results they wanted at the end of the process.
A mistake often made is when the supervisor takes the project back and completes it himself or herself. While it may serve as a quick-fix, it only increases the burden on the manager, reducing their capacity to act in a supervisory mode. And it sends the message to the employee that they do not have your trust.
While it's tempting to blame problems on a lack of drive on the part of the employee, in my experience responsibility actually breeds motivation. The majority of workers desire to do well in their endeavors, and will raise their level of performance to meet higher expectations.
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