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Published by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
Thursday, May 2, 2002
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The Buck Stops Here, But Duck If Necessary

Delegation is a great tool. However, what do you do when you are the last person in the delegation chain? You might find yourself overloaded and under appreciated. There are a few things you can do if you the last delegatee.

Make a list of all the projects you are working on. Then schedule an appointment with the boss and ask for support on how to handle your workload. Believe it or not the boss may not be aware of how much you are doing. By making him or her aware, they may be able to get you some help.

If there is no one who the boss can get to help, let the boss decide what priority each project holds. By letting the boss establish the priority of each project, you take yourself off the hot seat of trying to decide what to do next.

If more than one person delegates to you, start a sign-up list. Let each person know what you are working on and when you will be able to complete their project. If they have any concerns about this, suggest they go to the boss and discuss how the job might be done sooner. Many times, people will be OK with the time frame as long as they know up front. If this doesn't work for them, they can choose alternatives for getting their project done in their time frame.

Practice saying, "No." Often we say yes out of fear of what others will think or that they may not like us. If you can't fulfill a commitment, it is better to say no rather than make a promise you cannot keep.

Stop volunteering. Those of us who can do a lot often think we can do a lot more. There is a limit. Stop volunteering for projects. Even though the project may sound interesting, if you are already overloaded, volunteering will not make matters better. If someone tries to volunteer you, practice saying, "No." You can say something like, "It sounds like a great opportunity. Unfortunately, I already have more than enough to do and will have to pass on this one." If it is the boss who is volunteering you, let them know what you are already doing and then she or he can decide how to prioritize.

Coaching

There is a difference between being delegated to and being dumped on. Do what you need to do to make sure the workload is something you can handle. Remember to take care of yourself and do what you have to do to protect your health and sanity.

As long as you let people overload you with work, they will. Learn to say no and get help when you need it. There is nothing wrong with having strong boundaries around what you will and will not do. The more you respect yourself and set your limit, the more others will respect you.

Are you doing too much?

Daily Success Formula

Setting strong boundaries + Knowing personal limits + Saying No = Manage delegation

Quotes

"We accomplish all that we do through delegation -- either to time or to other people." Stephen R. Covey