Challenges of Delegation and how to deal with them

Obstacles that can make delegation within an organization difficult or even impossible can be classified into 3 general categories:

1. Obstacles related to the Supervisor
2. Obstacles related to Subordinates
3. Obstacles related to Organizations

Obstacles related to the Supervisor:

A supervisor who resists delegating his authority to subordinates because he cannot bear to part with any authority.

Two other supervisor related obstacles are the fear that the subordinates will not do a job well and the suspicion that surrendering some authority may be seen as a sign of weakness.

If supervisors are insecure in their jobs or believe certain activities are extremely important to their personal success, they may find it hard to put the performance of these activities into the hands of the others.

Obstacles related to Subordinates:

Subordinates may be reluctant to accept delegated authority because they are afraid of failing, lack self confidence, or feel the supervisor doesn’t have the confidence in them.

These obstacles will be especially apparent in subordinates who have never before used delegated authority.

Other subordinate related obstacles are the fear that the supervisor will be unavailable for guidance when needed and the reluctance to exercise authority that may complicate comfortable working relationships.

Obstacles related to the Delegation Process:

In organizations, where few job activities and little authority have been delegated in the past, an attempt to initiate the delegation process may make employees reluctant and apprehensive, for the supervisor would be introducing a significant change in procedure and change is often strongly resisted.

ELIMINATING OBSTACLES IN THE DELEGATION PROCESS:

Advantages of Delegation are:

1. Enhanced Employee Confidence
2. Improved Subordinate Involvement and Interest
3. More free time for the supervisor to accomplish tasks
4. Assistance from subordinates in completing tasks the manager simply wouldn’t have time for otherwise.

What can managers do to eliminate obstacles to the delegation process?

Firstly uncover the obstacles to delegation.

Then taking actions to eliminate these obstacles with the understanding that they may be deeply ingrained and therefore required much time and effort to overcome.

Among the most effective management actions that can be taken to eliminates obstacles to delegation are building subordinate confidence in the use of delegated authority on established working relationships, and helping delegates cope  with problems whenever necessary.

MANAGERIAL CHARCTERISITICS REQUIRED:

• Willingness to consider the ideas of others seriously
• The insight to allow subordinates the free rein necessary to carry out their responsibilities,
• Trust on abilities of subordinates
• The wisdom to allow people to learn from their mistakes without suffering unreasonable price for making them.