How to mess up delegation?

This is a real time experience that I’ve come across in my career.

This happened in one organizations that I worked for wherein the training team was trying to automate some of the training modules and they wanted to come out with e- learning modules.  One of the prerequisite in doing this was to review, organize and get all the existing content ready.  To start with, 4 modules were identified for pilot.  A SME was identified and I happened to be there when the Training Manager was delegating this work (review of those 4 modules) to her. 

The Training Manger was giving a brief as to what needed to be done and told her to complete the task within 4 days, 1 module per day. Immediately she shot back, Boss, How could that be possible?. You know that even if I have to stretch, it will take at least 6 days’ time.  His reply was, we have other deliverables, so I want you to complete it within 4 days and there is no other go. He sounded firm.  I could see both surprise and disappointment on her face and she left.

After she was gone, he was telling me his rationale that only if you give 4 days, it will be completed in 6 days. If you give 6 days, it will get delayed to 8 days or more than that. You should always give lesser time than what is required.  That’s why I insisted on completing the job within 4 days. This rationale did not really sound like a rationale to me, rather it sounded like a cheap tactics.  If both the Boss and the employee knew what it takes to do a job, you cannot be doing this.  This was a new kind of delegating that I’ve never come across and I had to disagree with him that he was doing was not correct and it can only demotivate the employee.

My mind was thinking of the "casualties" that could have happened in this delegation process.  I am sure it is anybody’s easy guess.

# Loss of Trust - since boss was deliberately reducing the time which his team member was very much aware.When trust is lost, everything is lost ;

# Loss of Motivation

# Good boss-team member relationship

# Team work

# Quality of work

# Above all, effective employees’ engagement was lost.

No wonder why Gallup said, the onus of motivation lies with the boss.

Trust factor is the foundation in any relationship.  People should trust each other and without trust, the team can never work as a team and it’s detrimental to Organization.

It’s our responsibility to build that trust with the other person and not theirs.  To build trust, one has to be genuine and should not use any such “cheap tactics” or “techniques”.  It may probably work in the short-term but not in the long-term.  It will be just a matter of time that people can easily see through you. 

Do stay connected and Happy weekend.

diD yOU enJOY ReADinG ThIS ArTIcLE? 

                                  If yES, 

yOU maY sHAre it wiTH Your FriENds tOO