Delegation – Alan Feirer

The Relationship Between Delegation and Role-Modeling

January 26, 2022 by Alan Feirer

We all know the value of modeling for team members. We also know it’s appropriate to delegate tasks in order to develop others. Here are some thoughts on the relationship between modeling and delegation: Delegated work makes people feel valued, included, and appreciated. When people are empowered at work, you can expect more productivity and … Read more

Leaders Know that True Kindness Beats Niceness

January 10, 2018 by Alan Feirer

I live in Iowa, and a term that gets floated a lot is “Iowa Nice.” As time goes on, though, it gets used ironically as much as it gets used sincerely. I think that’s because “Nice” doesn’t always equal “Kind.” Some leaders need to be reminded that giving positive you’re-on-the-right-track feedback is important and motivating. … Read more

Things Successful Leaders Avoid Saying (Part 10)

May 31, 2017 by Alan Feirer

Successful leaders avoid this phrase:

“I need you to…”

Although this is a common way for leaders to assign tasks, it is poor wording for these reasons:

It turns servant leadership upside down; leaders are supposed to meet the needs of others, not to seek to have their own needs met.

Use Micro-Management as a Learning Tool

November 16, 2016 by Alan Feirer

Micromanagement gets a bad name. Deservedly so – you will alienate your best people if you tell them how to size the columns and what font to use for the Tracking Performance Spreadsheet reports, and really make them feel like children when you stand over them to dictate the angle of the staple when they attach … Read more

Leaders Deliver to Those They Lead

May 27, 2015 by Alan Feirer

Remember that two-word definition of leadership – “Meet Needs” ? You can really put that into action by staying conscious of things that you can deliver to the people who report to you. Your team is so used to deliverables they’re accountable for, that it’s a nice change of pace when you ask them specifically, … Read more

Leaders Allow Space for Helping Out

January 14, 2015 by Alan Feirer

In the beginning, it was important that Alan lay out in detail for me exactly what amount of time he intended for me to spend on different tasks. This helped me plan my week, knowing that I needed a couple hours for this task, and a few hours for that… But there was one thing … Read more

How Much Hand-Holding? Onboarding and Situational Leadership

November 25, 2014 by Alan Feirer

Hersey and Blanchard’s concept of Situational Leadership dictates that we provide a level of leadership and attention that is appropriate to a follower’s levels of expertise and motivation. Often, leaders believe they are “empowering” and “granting autonomy” by being hands-off, and letting people learn on their own. While that sounds good, it only works in cases … Read more

Nuggets from Leading at a Higher Level

March 25, 2014 by Alan Feirer

This week’s book is Leading at a Higher Level. Ken Blanchard’s Situational Leadership model is a simple way to figure out what kind of leadership is needed for a particular individual.

A leadership paradox: delegation versus modeling

December 1, 2009 by Alan Feirer

In a Group Dynamic workshop, we devote a lot of time to the value of modeling — behaving the way we want members of the team to behave. We also talk about the value of delegation. There are two big benefits to delegation of tasks: