It happened Sunday about noon. The deep breath I took was followed by a short
shiver and a nervous headshake.
“Do
you have your learner’s permit in your wallet?”, I asked Will. Yes.
Would you like to drive to the store this afternoon? Yes!
That short conversation was my metaphorical jump from the sky diving
plane of security and I was hoping (praying) my chute was packed correctly.
Our son Will had been patiently waiting for an invitation from my wife or me to
take him out for his first drive behind the wheel of a car since he had obtained
his learner’s permit several weeks earlier. Betsey did not know that the driving
adventure was to happen until she saw Will in the driver’s seat and me in the
passenger seat calm, cool and slightly ashen in color as we rolled out of the
driveway.
Teaching someone how to drive isn’t so hard I thought. Start,
Turn, Stop. Isn’t that all there is to it? I’ve been doing it for years. It shouldn’t
take him long to pick it up and I can end my chauffeur service for one more child.
Wrong. It’s hard to teach someone on that first drive. The hardest thing
is being out of control of just about everything while you are watching from the
passenger seat. It was hardest to control the beads of cold sweat on my forehead
for the first ten minutes.
The amazing part was that after another ten
minutes he understood that the brakes were obediently responsive and that the
sequence of turn signal, coast, brake and turn steering wheel was much more difficult
than operating an iPod Nano. We both took great pride that we arrived at our destination
and returned without incident.
The feelings I felt from the passenger
seat on that driving lesson aren’t much different than the feelings you get when
you assign or delegate jobs to others. A point occurs when it’s time to pass responsibility
to others no matter how uncomfortable you feel about it.
In the past,
when I have delegated work to others, I felt much of the anxiety I felt during
Will's’ driving lesson.
- Does he know enough? (Up or down for a left hand
turn signal)
- What if he forgets the important stuff? (brake pedal location)
- What
happens if he has to make a decision about a new situation? (dog in road)
Delegation
is about trusting the delegate. If the delegate is capable of handling 80 percent
or more of the job, then it’s time for the boss to sit in the passenger seat and
let the delegate drive.
Having faith in the delegate, being aware
of the delegate’s proficiencies and trusting your own internal good judgment are
the three essentials for the art of delegation. Take every opportunity you have
to let others drive in your organization. It is the only way they will grow, your
business will grow and you will grow.
Does your organization advertise:
Drivers Wanted?
Learn
to delegate by making time to plan, one of my 8 simple strategies for success.
Want to learn more? click
here
