How to ask for delegation

Submitted by Vincent Musolino
in
General Questions and Comments
Context: - my boss: High D, high C - me: High D, high I Issue: I'm bored :lol: Solution: ask him to delegate stuff to me Question: how do I effectively do that? My current ideas: "give me anything that a) takes time away from your main priorities b) you do not like doing I promise I'll follow up weekly" Ideas?
Submitted by Craig Cleveland on Monday September 10th, 2007 6:21 pm

As a High D/High C, delgegation is probably hard for your boss. Your boss wants it done... right (correct)... and now.

Show him how you can do this by [u]doing[/u] it, not saying that you'll do it.

Also, he's probably less interested in "weekly follow-ups" than reports that things are getting done. The distinction is difference between people-focused and task-focused.

CC

Submitted by Vincent Musolino on Tuesday September 11th, 2007 10:11 am

[quote="ccleveland"]As a High D/High C, delgegation is probably hard for your boss. Your boss wants it done... right (correct)... and now. [/quote]
Absolutely. We have an IT mission statement about two sentences long but we all joke that the real one is "Git'R Dun".

[quote]
Show him how you can do this by [u]doing[/u] it, not saying that you'll do it.
[/quote]
Right, but my numbers are all going up already and he knows that.

[quote]
Also, he's probably less interested in "weekly follow-ups" than reports that things are getting done. The distinction is difference between people-focused and task-focused.

CC[/quote]
By follow-ups, I meant: "Hey boss, this is what I've done, and this is where I am on x and y". But I get your point.

Thanks for the feedback.

Submitted by Will Duke on Tuesday September 11th, 2007 11:11 am

Vinnie - How about:

"Hey Boss, I finished up that project you gave me. I checked the ticket system and we're current. Do you have anything for me?"

"Hey boss I finished that last project. I have some time and can take on another project. Got anything for me?"

"Hey Boss I finished that last project and my calendar is open. Got anything for me?"

If your relationship is good, if he sees you as an up and comer:
"Hey Boss I finished that project, thanks for the opportunity. Do you have another?"

"Hey boss, I finished that project. Please sir, can I have some more?" (You inserted the joke before, I thought one might fly.)

Submitted by Vincent Musolino on Friday September 21st, 2007 2:34 pm

I asked him, he said he was going to think about it.

I have the feeling that if my boss does not delegate anything to me, it's either because a) he thinks I am not capable b) he's not very busy. I can't believe it's b) so if it's a), why propose this leadership process he just told me about?

I'll keep you posted.

Submitted by John Hack on Friday September 21st, 2007 10:17 pm

or c) if you want something done right, do it yourself. He may just not be comfortable delegating.

John

Submitted by Wendii Lord on Saturday September 22nd, 2007 5:44 am

Vinnie,

is there anything that you can see needs doing that isn't on his radar?

I got bored saying the same thing to my hiring managers over and over again, so produced a guide for them. It wasn't on anyone's radar but my own, and it's now being used throughout the organisation.

I enjoyed doing it, and it filled some quiet time. After it was done, I took it to my boss and explained why I'd done it and how I thought it was useful.

Just an idea.

Wendii

Submitted by Vincent Musolino on Saturday September 22nd, 2007 10:17 am

[quote="jhack"]or c) if you want something done right, do it yourself. He may just not be comfortable delegating.

John[/quote]
I think that it's what it is. I like him, I do learn from him, but he has zero trust in anyone (that I can think of) *and* is task and control oriented.

We'll see :-)

Submitted by Vincent Musolino on Saturday September 22nd, 2007 10:18 am

[quote="wendii"]Vinnie,

is there anything that you can see needs doing that isn't on his radar?

I got bored saying the same thing to my hiring managers over and over again, so produced a guide for them. It wasn't on anyone's radar but my own, and it's now being used throughout the organisation.

I enjoyed doing it, and it filled some quiet time. After it was done, I took it to my boss and explained why I'd done it and how I thought it was useful.

Just an idea.

Wendii[/quote]
I actually started a documentation wiki for all of my applications on Friday :-) It could be used across at least 3 organizations (mine, application support and help desk) so this might be something that will keep me busy for a little while.

Thanks for the great idea :-)

Submitted by Mark Horstman on Sunday September 23rd, 2007 9:30 pm

It's really hard to get a boss like yours to delegate.

So, as Wendii suggests (she's so smart!) choose something else to deliver value with. If it touches his hot buttons, so much the better.

Mark