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...
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Top 10 Things Every Business Should Provide for Every Worker - Including the Boss!
Doing business and meeting the needs of workers is increasingly complex. Employees and managers often prefer a cafeteria-list of fringe benefits (a "flexible spending account") so they can choose increased health care, child care or more time off as their individual preferences dictate. But underneath these specifics, there are central needs that most of us want from our work. Money can not buy happiness, and by itself it will rarely purchase a loyal, highly motivated staff (even in a one-person professional office or small family business).
Use QA As Your First Step To Outsourcing
Quality Assurance, or QA, is often given short shrift in a software development organization, especially when budgets are tight. When debating the software development budget at one of my software companies, the CEO finally asked, "Well, do you really want to hire a QA guy, or a programmer to add features to the software?"
How to Reduce Temporary Employee Turnover
The use of temporary services to stock a farm of employees is beneficial in a number of ways for an employer, and detrimental in others; but the one that will always be heard is that good labor is hard to find when using these services.
Workplace Violence - People are Dying Going to Work
Workplace violence has become a tragic reality today. From minor instances of harassment to homicide today's workplace is littered with danger.
Keep The Faith - Transform The Fear
FEAR! To what extent does fear rule your life? How is fear controlling or motivating you? Bring up the topic and watch people react. Our lives incorporate so many beliefs about fear- reinforced by what we tell ourselves and what we hear from others. Is it any wonder that finding peace and serenity becomes such a challenge within a strong climate of negativity?
Are You At The Mercy Of Computer Geeks?
Many business owners are sabotaging their business without even realizing it. They are completely out of the loop when it comes to all technology aspects of their operation such as websites, computers and software. They become completely dependent on their technical people and naively believe that things are "being taken care of".
Where Else in Your Business Do You Accept a 60% Failure Rate?
I recently surveyed CEOs and Business Leaders of large companies and small, profit and not-for-profit, and I asked just them just one question:
'What is the single biggest factor that you believe will inhibit your sustained profitable growth into the future?' A, perhaps, surprising 37% responded that it was people - the recruitment, motivation and retention of people that was the biggest factor.
Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Have a Complete Agenda
Most agendas for a meeting look like this.
Toxic Bosses
What's everyone's favorite topic around the water cooler? Bad bosses! You know, the ones who make life in the office unbearable? Here are some of the more common varieties you'll find.
Management Development - Micromanagement Works!
Getting into the detail of everything each of your people does, will really damage your relationships with them. Sure, there are times where their hand needs to be held, and then there are times when you have to be sensitive enough to their needs to back off and let them learn for themselves.
Leadership Style: What Makes A Good Boss?
In today's competitive environment, companies realize that a good boss is one who can identify and build on the talents of the staff and knows how to retain top performing employees. Take this quiz and see if you are a good boss.
Managing After Downsizing
So, you survived the downsizing. Your company did something that will probably show minimal, if any, return -- and will make your job as a manager a living hell. Your life has changed dramatically. People on your staff are frightened, fearful that they may be next to go. They will lie low hoping that they can be spared the next swing of the ax. (You may be feeling the same thing as well.) Teamwork will decrease as people begin to view the person next to them as a threat to that increasingly scarce resource -- a job.
Why Would Anyone Hold a Bad Meeting?
Pssst, want a stock tip that will make you rich? Okay, here it is: phone a public
corporation and ask to speak with the CEO.
Innovation Management: The Quality and Quantity of the Idea Pool
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
What Every HR Manager Should Know About Hiring Productive Employees
The characteristics of job applicants have a strong influence on whether or not they get hired. Their characteristics also indicate the level of their productivity. If you are about to hire employees, consider the characteristics listed below in checklist form. The candidates who possess them are probably the ones who will be readily accepted by your staff. This acceptance plays an important role in the team-building process and the productivity of the staff.
Innovation Management: The Time Factor
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Great Employees = Passionate Consumers
Companies spend millions of dollars each year identifying their brand, and then communicating their brand promise through various media.
Christmas Carol Coaching - Help to Get Ahead at Holiday Time!
I've always been fascinated by situations where art imitates real life and right here is a perfect example, which links Christmas and business & personal development.
Work Priorities: Where Can You Spend Your Time Most Effectively?
Understanding where you can spend time most effectively requires concentration in three areas:
Results of Poor Cross Cultural Awareness
Results of Poor Cross Cultural Awareness. Having a poor understanding of the influence of cross cultural differences in areas such as management, PR, advertising and negotiations can eventually lead to blunders that can have damaging consequences.
|
