BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP TO OVERCOME PERSONAL BARRIERS
Frankness, openness, and effective communication are essential to successful delegation, helping to build and sustain trust and overcome many personal barriers. You can reinforce trust and nurture mutual esteem through careful management.
Communicating Well
When managers keep knowledge to themselves,communicate sporadically and incompletely, or even make no attempt to tell the truth at all, mistrust and other negative feelings in their staff will build rapidly. But misunderstandings and unjustified suspicions can result even when people believe they are discussing matters openly and honestly.
Some managers hear only what they want to hear, and employees may be afraid to contradict them. To be a good communicator, you must express your ideas clearly and develop your listening skills. This will encourage others to share their thoughts and opinions with you.
Comparing Perceptions
When assessing whether you are a helpful and accomplished delegator, you must always bear in mind the delegate’s point of view. You may uncover a surprising gulf in the way a situation is perceived .Make it clear from the from the start that you want and expect honest opinions about your delegating style. If the feedback you receive indicates that you are thought of as interfering and distrustful, act immediately to correct the situation. The more delegates realize that they have real responsibility and will not be second-guessed, the better they will do.
Respecting Opinions
Treat everybody with the same respect that you expect yourself, because your staff are allies in the job of management. When you delegate, you show respect by entrusting part of your work to another because you believe in their capability and suitability.
To build mutual respect, ask your delegates for their opinions on how the work should be done, and show you are listening to their suggestions.
| DO’S | DON’TS |
| Do use all means to communicate with your staff | Don’t be dismayed by differing perceptions – they are natural |
| Do strive to regard your associates as competent people | Don’t forget that trust is a two-way process that can take time and effort to establish |
| Do remind delegates that you respect and appreciate them | Don’t ask people to do things that you wouldn’t do yourself |
| Do show your delegates loyalty and support | Don’t use delegates as scapegoats when things go wrong |
| Do allow delegates the opportunity to give their opinions | Don’t dissuade staff from speaking |
TIPS
Make sure you give people plenty of authority rather than little.
Always deal swiftly and positively with idle and unjustified rumors
If you do not trust a member of staff, do not keep them.
Treat your own perceptions as facts and analyse them objectively.
