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SYNCHRONISTICALLY SPEAKING™

IN THIS ISSUE

A Note From Diane
This Month’s Leadership Briefing: GETTING RESULTS THROUGH OTHERS – The Art of Delegation
Recommended Resources & Upcoming Events

A NOTE FROM DIANE

As summer winds down and the kids get back to school, work has a way of taking on additional significance for many of us. With vacations over, we often find ourselves with piles of work to catch up on and new projects and challenges to add to it. It may feel as though it is just too much for one person to do. In these situations, the best of leaders often begin not by figuring out what they’ll do, but rather what they won’t do.

This month’s leadership briefing, Getting Results Through Others is on the art of delegation, a critical part of being a leader, and one that many of us struggle with (myself included!) I’ve often wondered just what makes it so difficult and how we can avoid getting sucked into doing work that is really more appropriate for others. This month, I’ll share some of the insights I’ve gained from helping leaders to address their challenges in this area and to redirect their tendencies to do everything themselves so that they can truly lead. Please forward this ezine to anyone you think would benefit!

Delegation is just one of the many challenges leaders face regularly. Ever wish you had a forum to explore some of your biggest leadership challenges and opportunities with other like minded leaders to determine the best way to achieve and sustain results? In September, I’ll be launching a web based program that allows you to do just that – without even having to leave your desk! In addition to delving deeper into Getting Results Through Others, we’ll explore concepts like Transforming Conflict into Collaboration, Making a Strategic Impact, Leading with Influence, and Power Injecting Your Productivity. For more information about this upcoming opportunity, visit www.UnleashTheExtraordinary.com/ILP.

Wishing you a fabulous month ahead!

Diane
Diane M. Bolden, Founder/President
Synchronistics Coaching & Consulting
www.Synchronistics.net
(602) 889-2329

THIS MONTH’S SYNCHRONISTICALLY SPEAKING™ LEADERSHIP BRIEFING

GETTING RESULTS THROUGH OTHERS – The Art of Delegation
Article # 6, Synchronistically Speaking™ series, August 2008

“I know this is something I should probably delegate but…

… I can do it quicker myself.
… no one does it better than (or as good as) me.
… if I want something done right, I really should do it myself.”

SOUND FAMILIAR? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, most people don’t necessarily have a lack of knowledge about how to delegate. Some who experience difficulty could even teach a class on it (and have). Sometimes our biggest trouble is acting on what we know. In that case, learning new techniques doesn’t always help us all that much. In fact, often what we really need to do is unlearn things that have consciously or unconsciously reinforced over time.

The justifications listed above for not delegating all have at least one thing in common. THEY ARE STORIES. Highly compelling stories that previous experiences may have led us to believe are true, but stories nonetheless. They stop us dead in our tracks and have a way of sabotaging our success.

Many of us realize that these stories are not particularly rational. After all, when people begin to consciously manage their time better so they can raise their sights from tactical to strategic, one of the first things they learn to ask themselves is “what can I delegate?” And as they endeavor to grow stronger teams they realize others need to have an opportunity to learn new things. But those old stories have a way of getting hold of us and not letting go. Why? Because we believe them and then we act in ways that make them true.

If you act on the belief that you can do something faster or better yourself, you will never know how much more efficiently someone else could have done it, and chances are you will end up spending more time on it that you thought you would. We often cling to tasks we can do in our sleep because finishing them gives us a sense of completion and accomplishment. If you are in the habit of doing this, you will probably be very busy – perhaps even quite efficient, but not as effective as you could be. Why? Because as a leader, your chief task is to raise your sights to more strategic endeavors – those projects and issues that don’t have easy answers. In this case, your tendency to do everything yourself becomes a cleverly disguised procrastination mechanism that will keep you from truly leading and result in a continual feeling of overwhelm.

Though it may be true in the short term that you can check that box faster if you don’t have to sit down and teach someone else how to do something that comes easily to you, in the long run you are creating a destructive pattern that could not only sabotage your own success, but also that of those you are tasked with developing and leading. Again, your assumption that others can’t do things as well as you will prove to be true if you never allow them the chance to learn, practice and become proficient with something that could ultimately free you up to be more strategic (not to mention more sane!)

Even if you go through the motions of implementing all those great delegation tips and tools you’ve learned over the years, executing on that knowledge may not get you the results you want as long as you are believing those old stories. Why? Because you will get what you focus on. If you believe the people you are coaching and mentoring will never be able to deliver the way you do, you will be passing the baton without loosening your grip on it. You may unintentionally withhold important information people need to get the job done right, or unconsciously communicate doubt in their abilities, both of which will inhibit their ability to deliver for you.

So how do you move beyond these old beliefs, assumptions and stories?

Become aware of how often you are doing something you know you should be delegating, and take a look at what you are believing when you do it.
Recognize that you are telling yourself a story that may not be true.
Take a look at how you feel and act when you believe that story. Chances are it is actually adding to your overwhelm and contributing to patterns of behavior that are not serving you in the long run.
Find a way to shift your story to something that is more accurate and aligned with the result you want to achieve. How differently would you approach delegation if instead of assuming it will cause problems, you focus on what you and others have to gain as a result? Adjusting your definition of success from getting things done to getting the right things done could also help you here.
Be patient! Patterns like these have often been reinforced and engrained over a long period of time. Start small, recognize the gains you are experiencing, and if you fall into old habits be very aware of the impact and consequence they bring you. Then ask what you will do differently next time.

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Diane Bolden is passionate about working with leaders to unleash human potential. An executive coach and organization development professional with over 17 years of experience in leadership development, coaching and consulting, Diane has worked with managers, directors and vice presidents/officers in Fortune 500 companies and non profit organizations to achieve higher levels of performance and success by helping them to bring out the best in themselves and everyone around them. To receive her free special report on Ten Traps Leaders Set for Themselves ~ and How to Avoid Them, visit www.UnleashTheExtraordinary.com.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES & UPCOMING EVENTS

The Integrated Leader Program – September ’08–February ’09

Ready to take your performance and leadership to a whole new level? Through a six month series of ninety minute webinars, you will leverage the Seven Secrets of Extraordinary Leaders™ to consistently get to the root of leadership challenges and opportunities you regularly face and handle them with greater clarity, focus, and ease. As a result, you’ll achieve and sustain desired results for yourself and your organization and show others how to lead through your example. You’ll also learn from interviews of Exemplary Leaders recorded and sent to you on a CD each month. For more information go to www.UnleashTheExtraordinary.com/ILP. To register: click the link below, call (602) 889-2329 or email us at Info@Synchronistics.net.

Transformations in Leadership Workshop – November 6-7, 2008 (Enrollment limited to 5-6 participants)

Ever wish there was a faster, better way to unearth your best work? You will leave this workshop with the ability to see your most daunting challenges through eyes that reveal solutions you have otherwise missed. This is the beginning of a discovery process that allows you to unearth your true potential as a leader so that you can do the same for others. Enrollment is capped at five participants, to allow each person a powerfully individualized experience. For more information, go to www.UnleashTheExtraordinary.com/leadership. To register: click the link below, call (602) 889-2329 or email us at Info@Synchronistics.net.