Skill Sharpener Item #17

I reserve the use of delegation for participants who, for whatever reason, come to my projects underprepared but who are motivated enough to learn what is required to complete their assigned project tasks.

Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you get the efficiency benefits of delegation when (and only when) a participants is motivated enough to climb a learning curve without you spending time behind him/her pushing:

You make the best use of your time by not 'over-managing' someone who can learn what's needed to succeed without your coaching.

You protect the participant's self-esteem (by not dumping them and by not providing what might be viewed as 'remedial instruction') as you give them the chance to both learn a new skill and make a project contribution.

You minimize confusion and the chance of failure by delegating specific, intermediate results that are part of a carefully planned project.

By anticipating the participant's 'can't but would' status, you've got enough lead time to start the delegation before the effects of their having to learn how to contribute threaten your schedule.