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A Closer Look at Delegation

Because management sets the example and sculpts the work environment, it is important to take a look around you—to your management peers to the right and left of you, and to those above and below you.

Do those to the left and the right model delegation? Are they open to delegating to one another, and to one another’s staff members? This is known as sideways delegation, and it’s completely acceptable where management works as teams, rather than in department silos.

Also consider if managers below you are encouraged to delegate as well, and if upper management rewards good delegation practices. If the answer is yes to either of these, it is very likely you can be confident that your management will support you in your effort to delegate work.

But don’t stop there. Take a look around at the men and women in your management ranks. Does your company send different signals about delegation to men versus women, and vice versa? In some organizations, male managers are expected to delegate, but female managers are the recipients of delegated work from their male counterparts. However, the reverse can also be true, in which male managers can be criticized by female superiors for delegating work.