I was curious about the impact of delegation on an organization’s business success, specifically the new hierarchy-free, Holacracy organizational structure that is steadily increasing in popularity.
Of course I have my own opinions but I thought a quick poll of my colleagues would provide deeper insight. I asked around and to my great surprise I discovered that this is still a hotly debated topic!
The age-old big delegation questions are still:
- When to delegate?
- Why to delegate?
- How to delegate?
…And, most critically, is the concept of delegation totally irrelevant in the new Holacracy?
The Art of Delegation – more relevant than ever!
The results of my ad hoc delegation survey showed that:
- 50% felt that: “Delegation is a practice that has no impact on the business or culture … especially in the world of cross-functional teams & Holacracies”
- But 50% reported: “Delegation is a critical communication, a powerful tool, requiring bold leadership, emotional intelligence, and courage.”
Well, I actually agree with both and I think both answers are right (hence the split vote!).
So how does that work?
First, let’s define the word:
How do we define ‘delegation’ exactly?
Getting down to the nitty-gritty of what delegation actually is, delivers clarity. Delegation is:
- The act of delegating power or authority to another (we know that high functioning teams are based on a foundation of open, honest communication)
- One or more persons chosen to represent others (well, this is the heart of Holacracies and global teams as well).
What we’re seeing is that the art of delegation, or the act of delegating authority or power to another to represent you, continues to be highly relevant in the world of Holacracies and teams – and perhaps even more so!
New emerging organizational structures such as Holacracy need even greater communication skills to ensure successful delegation of power and authority. The way that power is delegated within organizations is quickly evolving and we need to evolve with it!
For example, to create instant positive change in your organization your ability to handle touchy topics – or what we like to call Critical Communications – will ensure long-term cultural change and enthusiastic employee engagement.
In fact, if you’re looking for an excellent – high impact, high ROI – training solution that can transform your organization, ask us about our training “Power Pack” which includes:
- The Art of Delegation: Delegate to create highly engaged teams and high velocity business results
- Critical Communications: Stop Avoiding Touchy Topics and Turn your Conversations into Powerful Communications
Need help teaching your team the Art of Delegation?
We can help your team to become experts in the Art of Delegation by providing customized training solutions to enhance your workplace culture. Email us at info@pendolinogroup.com for more information.
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