How to get rid of "Must do it all yourself" syndrome at workplace??

When an additional task comes to your table, it is very important for you to clearly define this.Often, people feel that because the task has come to their table, it must be theirs.

Only if it is your work, get busy doing it, else, direct it to the person responsible for it.....

I feel one should recognize his/her role & the expectations of the employer viz a viz one's line of action & performance.

After have done so, one should be focused towards one's stint rather paying attention for who's doing what or who's not doing what. And of course roles should be very clearly be defined at all levels within the organization with accountability.

Thanks for the referral Darshana.

There are specifically two reasons which prompt some one into "do it all yourself"syndrome.

1. A feeling that I can do it faster myself.

2. Training would mean loss of time.

Now lets analyse:

1. Sure you can do it faster but is it because you are more talented than your subordinate?I don't think so.It is probably because someone else mentored you and because you have been doing it for quite a while.So its quite ethical that you extend the same to your sub-ordinate.Moreover for your career growth also it is important to seek higher level of responsibilities than to continue doing what you have been doing till now.

2. Yes,surely training will ask for additional effort than doing it by yourself but then if you continue to do it yourself just ask a simple question; how much and how long ? Moreover ,a King is as powerful as his weakest soldier,so go on ! make an army,rather than becoming just a good soldier.

Delegate your task 'wherever possible'. Free up your time. Focus on the things where your attention is required. Hence your skills are better used.
Advantages:
1) As a leader thus you can help your team members grow and develop and earn their respect.
2) You can expand your work delivery and You would be prepared to take higher responsibility.

To explain 'wherever possible':

Verify that the person whom you are delegating the task, is he capable of doing it the task? Can he handle alone? Is little supervision is required while the person executes the task?

Sometime you might feel uncomfortable in delegation task because of lack of confidence on the employee. While delegating explain clearly your expectation. Set the goals. Share with him the big picture. Periodically review about the progress if you are not fully certain about the person's capability.

Based on person's capability you have to take a call how much you can delegate in case you have decided to delegate a particular task?
Will he execute as per your instructions? Will he analyse and take a decision on his own? Will he discuss about the analysis and decision taken with you before he can go ahead as per the decision taken etc etc...

Moreover few more factors play in this area to take a judgemental call before you proceed delegation:
Find out the task which you are going to delegate, is it a recurring task? Is it good enough to build one member to do these types of tasks in future?
How much mentoring is required to train the person? You need to think about the consequences if not done properly - how much time would be left to complete the activity? What is the current workload of the person whom you are delegating etc etc?

Hi Darshana!

If you delegate the responsibilities, you can become more successfull. Learn it from the Movie makers. There's a Producer (Enterpreneur), Director, Music Director, Photographer. Combined efforts of all these, results in a successful movie!

It is quite true that no one should dream of and attempt to do all the jobs by himself. that is why you need so many people with different skills in the organisation. while delegating jobs, care should be taken to:

• Match authority with responsibility
• Develop a common understanding of common goals and objectives
• develop appreciation of complementary nature of other people's roles