A series of three short exercises designed to assist individuals delegate effectively. The exercise defines delegation as 'the practise of achieving results through the work of other people while retaining responsibility for the outcome' in a conventional manner but examines the skill from an unusual angle.  It encourages the delegator to consider the needs of the person to whom the task is being delegated.

This exercise is designed for groups of between 4-6 members and has sufficient materials for three groups.  If the three exercises are run back to back they will last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Objective

The exercise has two principle objectives:

• to explore the techniques of successful delegation by looking at the needs of the person to whom the work is delegated.
• to up-grade delegation as a practice by making managers think more deeply about it.

How it works

The first exercise uses conventional playing cards and a card clock demonstrator. The tutor, acting as a staff member, uses a hand of playing cards to represent their own personal values.  The task of the managerial group is to offer the staff member different cards in order to determine what this value system is and thereby enable the staff member to achieve at their optimum level.

The second exercise uses a similar mechanism, the offer and acceptance of cards, but with special value cards. In this exercise the staff member role plays a personality with specific needs which the managerial group seek to fulfil. The clues as to the value system are the actions of the team member, acceptance and rejection of cards, and their spoken work.  With each card offered or rejected the managerial group and staff member have to explain what they understand by the need on the card and why it is/is not appropriate.

The final exercise uses a questionnaire to assist participants in relating the ideas from the first two exercises to a real situation.

What participants will be doing

Offering cards; watching and listening to a staff member; discussing with other members of the managerial team to determine the staff members value system and what his/her needs are.  As individuals in the third exercise considering a specific staff member and using the insights gained to determine how to successfully delegate a specific task.

For what levels is it appropriate?

Supervisors, junior and middle managers.

Included

Tutor manual; Card clock demonstrator; Playing cards; Value cards; Questionnaire; and all supporting documentation.