Most of us under-delegate. Whitney Johnson, however, argues over-delegation can also be a problem – in three particular situations:
1. Are you struggling to explain precisely what you want the delegatee to do?“…if you can’t articulate what problem needs to be solved, or exactly what needs to be done, it’s usually best to wait to assign responsibility for a task until you can.”
2. Are you putting your own development or ability to lead in jeopardy by delegating?
“Delegation taken to its extreme creates the bubble that typically surrounds high-ranking political leaders. A recent column in the Wall Street Journal, The Special Assistant for Reality, explores President Obama’s failure to understand the backlash around the airport body searches. As author Peggy Noonan comments, ‘Wherever you go, there [the bubble] is. And the worst part is that the army of staff, security and aides that exists to be a barrier between a president and danger, or a president and inconvenience, winds up being a barrier between a president and reality.’” 3. Are you potentially undermining a project’s success by delegating?
You are not simply the best person for the job. You are the only person. Read the full explanation here.