Unveiling Insights with Alberta QUARCOOPOME: Uncertainty prevails as comprehensive knowledge remains elusive

Unveiling Insights with Alberta QUARCOOPOME: Uncertainty prevails as comprehensive knowledge remains elusive

An Unapologetic Approach to Efficient Leadership: A no-nonsense guide on delegating effectively

Listen here, even the mighty Captain Needs his crew. Pride can make you blind to the talents that lay idle around you, so be open and embrace what others can contribute.

**Let's get this straight, there's no single-handed triumph in sight. Bring your team into the spotlight, and boost yourself, your followers, and the crowd that stands by you.

Here are some nuggets from my guide you'll want to soak up......................

"Got yourself in a pickle? Feeling like you've hit a wall with your career? Delegating is hard for the best of us managers. You're giving up control,right? But, hey, taking a load off isn't just a plus for you but for everyone else too. Sometimes it feels like drowning in a pool of work, but (you guessed it) the solution is delegation- yes, you know it's crucial but still, you're not doing it because...

Collective Complaints of Managers

• " afraid my underlings will weasel their way up"
• "My minions are nothing more than grunts, meant to follow orders"
• "I have to keep an eye on everyone to ensure they don't overstep their boundaries"
• "The ants in my pant are just waiting for the right opportunity to bite"
• "Can’t trust my team, they'll mess it up, I'm the only one capable"
• " Let's be honest, I'll just have to micro-manage no matter what"
• "I can't trust them, they're too incompetent"
• "They've already got their hands full, there's no time for training"
• "The stakes are too high"

Delegation: The Secret Weapon of Leadership

The experts agree that delegation is a vital skill. "Your most critical task as a leader is to teach your people how to think critically and ask the right questions," says Jeffrey Pfeffer, the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.

• Even if delegation seems advantageous for leaders, managers, and organizations, it remains underutilized. Company executives fear their employees' delegation skills. But, surprisingly, they aren't keen on offering much training on the matter. You'll hear several managers say that they are too swamped to delegate - doing it themselves is more efficient.

Keep an Eye Out for Warning Signs

According to Amy Gallo, a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review and the author of the HBR Guide to Managing Conflict at Work, managers must watch out for the warning signs:

"You might not be aware that you're piling too much work on yourself. Here are some signs: A quintessential symptom of insufficient delegation is that you're working yourself to the bone while your staff seems to keep clocking in at regular hours. Plus, you feel that your team isn't engrossed in the work, and that you're the only passionate one. If they say, " I'm always happy to help" it might be a hint that you're doling out tasks, not delegating responsibilities."

Advantages of Delegation According to Jesse Lyn Stoner

She lists 12 reasons to take the risk:

1. A Manner to Manage Time: You get more time to concentrate on important tasks.
2. No Use of Irrelevant Details: You free yourself from the overwhelm of micro-managing.
3. Avoid the Hunt for Solutions to Crises: You increase your strategic thinking abilities.
4. Plenty of Time to Plan Ahead: You gain more time for strategic planning.
5. Pushing the Right Buttons: Your team gets the freedom to grow and excel.
6. Quality Decisions: Your team is more attuned to the situation, which leads to better decision-making.
7. Seen as an Effective Leader: Your team's success is your success.
8. Boost Confidence: You show faith in your team, resulting in improved attitudes, relationships, and performance.
9. Motivated and Committed Team: Your team develops a sense of ownership.
10. Preparing Future Leaders: You create a source of backup.
11. Your Victory Parade: You'll have an easier time getting promoted.
12. The Power of Empowerment: Doesn't that sound like music to your ears?

Relieving Delegation Risks

Now that you're ready to delegate, let's dive into the whys, whats, whens, and hows, to minimize the risks:

What to Delegate

To make the most of delegation, consider these tips:

• Identify team members' strengths and weaknesses through discussion.
• Handle the following tasks yourself: performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, confidential tasks, tasks assigned specifically to you, sensitive situations.
• Encourage your team to participate in choosing tasks.
• Develop career plans for your team members by delegating activities that may be part of their future roles.
• Choose people who have the necessary skills and motivation.
• Provide proper training, orientation, trials, and reviews before handing over tasks, then review and guide periodically.

When to Delegate

Effective delegation should make it a win-win situation. Remember, not everything should be delegated, so do these checks:

Can someone else finish the task with the necessary skills and information?- Is it crucial that you handle the task yourself?- Does the task provide opportunities for your team members to grow and learn?- Do you have the time for training and delegating tasks?- Understand that proper checks need to be in place: Co-sign reports with the supervisor before delegation. This encourages empowerment and lets supervisors know they are part of the solution.

Next week, we'll delve into a case of delegation gone awry in the finance industry.

TO BE CONTINUED

Call 0244333051 to acquire a copy of my latest book, THE MODERN BRANCH MANAGER'S COMPANION, and get vanguard insights about cultivating a top-notch mindset for excelling in the evolving banking landscape.

TO BE CONTINUED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alberta Quarcoopome, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is the founder and CEO of ALKAN Business Consult Ltd. She's the author of three books including "The 21 Century Bank Teller: A Strategic Partner," "My Front Desk Experience: A Young Banker's Story," and "The Modern Branch Manager's Companion." Her practical case studies train young bankers in areas like operational risk management, sales, customer service, banking operations, and fraud prevention.

CONTACT

Website: www.alkanbiz.com

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Tel: +233-0244333051/+233-0244611343

1. In my guide, you'll discover the importance of delegation for effective leadership in business, a skill that Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, deems critical for leaders.
2. Many managers struggle with delegation due to fears like the possibility of their team members surpassing them or the misconception that delegation would lead to micromanagement, results that can be mitigated through proper training and assessment of team members' strengths and weaknesses.
3. Delegation offers numerous advantages, such as freeing up time for strategic planning, fostering personal growth and team development, and boosting the manager's reputation as an effective leader.
4. To minimize the risks of delegation, it's essential to choose the right tasks to delegate, engage team members in the process, and provide adequate training and support.
5. In the world of banking and finance, for instance, proper delegation can lead to significant growth and success, as demonstrated by Alberta Quarcoopome, a recognized author and consultant in the field, who offers insights on cultivating a top-notch mindset for banking professionals in her book, THE MODERN BRANCH MANAGER'S COMPANION.

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