Delegating Has Some Dangers to Executives

I appreciated the column about the failure of many managers to delegate authority. Such failure is damaging indeed. Probably the best way to get these managers to start delegating is to show them the negative consequences of their not doing so: (1) low productivity of the manager’s work unit caused by mutual distrust of managers and subordinates, demoralized subordinates who do not apply their creative potential, and outright efforts by subordinates to impede progress, and (2) non-promotion of the manager due to low work-unit productivity, or, even if the work unit performs well in spite of the manager, due to not having a trained replacement who can step right in and become the work unit’s manager.

FRANK MICHAELSON

Human resources consultant

Los Angeles