"The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it." -- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States.
| How to Lead By Stepping Back: Five Steps to Delegation |
If you're a reader of my blogs, newsletters, and Tweets, you'll know I've returned repeatedly to the topic of delegation over the years—and for good reason. As a leader, there's no more effective and productive way to handle all your responsibilities. Leadership positions come weighted down with more than their fair share of tasks, because by definition a strategic initiative is more than one person can handle. Effective leaders must parcel out
that work and a good deal of the associated authority, so they can continue to think strategically and get things done through others. |
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| I was on a board of directors in a non-profit association where the CEO didn't have an executive assistant, in an attempt to save money. He was scheduling his own calls, sending out minutes,
and spending his time on administrative duties not appropriate for the hundreds of thousands of dollars he was paid—he was actually wasting money. When I became president, I told him in no uncertain terms I expected him to hire an assistant to free him up to focus on the strategic responsibilities we were paying him to fulfill. Ultimately, delegation extends and enriches your leadership, because it allows you to accomplish what can't be done without you and moves the organization
forward. Like any other business system, the ability to delegate doesn't leap to life fully formed. I totally understood why he didn't hire someone, because I used to be the same way. Because of my desire to take on the world, delegation has been a steep learning curve. I could do any of these tasks—and so can you—so it takes time to build delegation into a profitable skill. Here's what I've
learned:
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1. Do your homework. Study exactly what your new position entails, ideally before you take the reins. If this isn't possible, spend the first few weeks at least asking questions and understanding how everything "works." Examine the staff, the roles, and the existing delegation structure,
and see if it makes sense to you. You may be able to ascend into the position with everything already just the way it should be-but that's not likely-that's why you're there. |
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| 12Books Discussion Group on Execution IS the Strategy |
Join me as I lead the discussion at 12 Books on my latest book, Execution IS the Strategy: How Leaders Achieve Maximum Results in Minimum Time (Berrett-Koehler, 2014). 12 Books is the largest online business book group, introducing readers to leadership books on a monthly
basis via an author-led discussion forum. In today's world of rapid, disruptive change, strategy can't be separate from execution—it has to emerge from execution. You have to continually adjust your strategy to fit new realities. But if your organization isn't set up to be fast on its feet, you could easily go the way of Blockbuster or Borders. |
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| I will show you how to quickly drive strategic initiatives and get great results from your team. I use my L-E-A-D Formula™ to outline the Four Keys to Successful Execution: the ability to
Leverage your talent and resources, design an Environment to support an agile culture, create Alignment between strategic priorities and operational activities, and Drive the organization forward quickly. Join the book group for free and chime in on the discussion. To learn more about becoming a member of 12 Books, visit 12booksgroup.com. Also, join me for a live webinar on July 30, 2014. One hour attending this live webinar is going to save you countless hours in the future. Sign up for free
today!
| Looking for a productivity boost? Go back to school this fall! |
Laura Stack has all-new programs starting this fall. The Productivity University one-year program will begin with a live kick-off event, The Productivity Academy, in Denver on September 26, 2014.
If you're seeking peak performance, personal productivity, life balance, and success, The Productivity Pros individual coaching program provides a forum to discuss your challenges and gain insights from a group of like-minded colleagues and a personal consultant.
Are you a financial advisor, management consultant, or executive coach? Do you need to help your clients run more productive practices? Join Laura Stack's Productivity Pro® Elite Advisor Program™: A Licensed Distributorship of Productivity Pro® Content. |
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Thanks for reading! Make it a productive day.™ |
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All Articles (C) 2014 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. This information may not be distributed, sold, publicly presented, or used in any other manner, except as described below. Permission to reprint all or part of this article in your magazine, e-zine, website, blog, or
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Laura Stack is America's premier expert in personal productivity. For over 20 years, her speeches and seminars have helped professionals, leaders, teams, and organizations improve output, execute efficiently, and save time at work. She's the author or coauthor of 10 books, most recently, Execution IS the Strategy. To invite Laura to speak at your next meet or register for her free weekly newsletter, visit www.TheProductivityPro.com. |
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