There is this idea that you need official authority to get anything done. Woe is me, how do I influence a bunch of people when I can't really fire any of them? Dogs don't have real authority and they get a lot of stuff done. They run entire households. They influence everybody. Families design their life around the dog. Watch Cesar Milan and see who's running the household, (and his show). It's the dogs that are in charge. Dogs don't have business cards with titles. They have no official authority yet they have a tremendous effect on every one of us.
I thought about this need for official authority, and am no longer sure it's a real issue. Even Bill Clinton, then President of the United States said, "being president is like running a cemetery. You have a lot of people under you but nobody is listening." If the President can't rely on official authority, I'm certain it's not going to do you much good either. All of us, even the powerful, end with only unofficial authority.
One of the attributes people who delegate or lead others have is a disproportionate sense of competency. Sort of like Lady Gaga. Let's be clear, "Lady," is a 25 year old kid born in 1986, when the Pet Shop Boys had their hit, "West End Girls." How long ago was that, really? "Lady" sort of missed the memo about 10,000 hours of practice for master level performance, and went straight to the front of the bus. Reason? She has a disproportionate sense of competency and authority. Completely out of whack with who she really is.
It's not about official titles or authority. Before you can influence anyone, delegate, lead or supervise, you have to deeply believe you deserve to be at the front and you also have to do it better than the other guy. Lady Gaga leads because she thinks she can and because she can. She's very, very good at what she does.
First, you have to think you can. Secondly, you have to be very, very good at what you do. When those two things are in place, you don't need official authority. You'll be in charge. People will follow you freely. Delegating is not about authority, it's about having a following. Lady Gaga is in charge because she has a following.
On March 14th come join us for breakfast at the Burnaby Village Museum, where we'll discuss delegation. Workshop starts 7:59am sharp, - we're already 80% full.
See you for breakfast!
Wolf
Comments about March 14th seminar. "Learn to Delegate Effectively"
What I mean is delegate without losing control, when you don't have all the power and when you're befuddled because you're wearing too many hats.
There are a couple of things about delegating that worry managers
I thought about this need for official authority, and am no longer sure it's a real issue. Even Bill Clinton, then President of the United States said, "being president is like running a cemetery. You have a lot of people under you but nobody is listening." If the President can't rely on official authority, I'm certain it's not going to do you much good either. All of us, even the powerful, end with only unofficial authority.
One of the attributes people who delegate or lead others have is a disproportionate sense of competency. Sort of like Lady Gaga. Let's be clear, "Lady," is a 25 year old kid born in 1986, when the Pet Shop Boys had their hit, "West End Girls." How long ago was that, really? "Lady" sort of missed the memo about 10,000 hours of practice for master level performance, and went straight to the front of the bus. Reason? She has a disproportionate sense of competency and authority. Completely out of whack with who she really is.
It's not about official titles or authority. Before you can influence anyone, delegate, lead or supervise, you have to deeply believe you deserve to be at the front and you also have to do it better than the other guy. Lady Gaga leads because she thinks she can and because she can. She's very, very good at what she does.
First, you have to think you can. Secondly, you have to be very, very good at what you do. When those two things are in place, you don't need official authority. You'll be in charge. People will follow you freely. Delegating is not about authority, it's about having a following. Lady Gaga is in charge because she has a following.
On March 14th come join us for breakfast at the Burnaby Village Museum, where we'll discuss delegation. Workshop starts 7:59am sharp, - we're already 80% full.
See you for breakfast!
Wolf
Comments about March 14th seminar. "Learn to Delegate Effectively"
What I mean is delegate without losing control, when you don't have all the power and when you're befuddled because you're wearing too many hats.
There are a couple of things about delegating that worry managers
- Losing control. Either on deadlines or quality of the work. Managing delivery.
- Involving others. You may want to delegate but your team are not accepting the responsibility.
- They worry about losing control. A task or project may take a wrong turn, or not get done correctly.
- They think it takes too long to train others. On that point, they are correct, but I'll tell you how to work through that.
- They don't really think they have to delegate, that things can continue the way they are.
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