Topic: Life

So, Let's consider: When to Delegate 0

Posted by on in Let's Consider..., Life, Management





So, Let’s consider: When to Delegate

For the purposes of our little discussion here, we’re going to presume that a “manager” is a person that is in charge of multiple functions, people, deadlines, resources, projects, and basically everything else that has to get done, from a higher level, to make an entity work efficiently and profitably.
When you’re managing your company, group, department, whatever, you’re doing lots of things. Many times, you’re doing the same tasks, repetitively. Other times, they’re tasks that you could do, but your time is more valuable in another direction. A good manager knows when it’s time to hand off these tasks to a subordinate to perform. This allows the manager to stay fresh, work on managing and let other do the “doing” part of the jobs. This also helps you as a manager to be more productive, creative, develop new ideas and functions and in short be more successful and have a more successful company, department, etc.
This is called delegating and we’re going to look at a few reasons you should seriously give to using delegation strategies.

Not enough time

The fact remains, there’s only so many hours in a day and when your to-do list regularly still has important items on it at the end of your day, then it’s time to offload some of these things to someone else that can do them for you. Save your to-do lists for a week or appropriate period of time, then review them for tasks that someone else in your department could do well and let them have them. This will free your time up for higher priority items, strategic planning and big picture development.

You don’t know enough about the task to do it well

This comes under the “lack of expertise” area. None of us knows everything about everything. And few managers are skilled at all the tasks they’re going to have to perform. Things like dealing with IT, personnel, sales, accounting, marketing, manufacturing, purchasing, etc., requires that you juggle a lot of hats. There’s going to be times when you’re just not going to have the experience that you want to get the job done the way you want it to be done. Frankly there may also be times when you have to do things that you just don’t like and would prefer not to do. Then, find someone that does know what needs to be done and likes doing it. Don’t feel you have to learn and know everything. You’ll be happier knowing it’s getting done, done correctly and you can be working on other things you need to be doing.

A staff member wants to learn and grow

So, let them! By giving staff members additional training and responsibilities you not only help develop your in house resources, you give them new skills and added experience beyond the redundant tasks that they are doing already. Nobody likes to get bored and nobody will stay at your company if they stay bored. Giving them new challenges and opportunities to learn, grow and do will make for not only happier, more satisfied, employees but also ones that are smarter and know how to help you and your company as well. If you invest in them, they’ll probably invest in you!

You’re bored

OK, at one time what you’re doing was your life’s goal and dream. You’re there, been there and now you’re not sure you want 1to stay there. You’re finding that your former goal is your current bane. OK, so, you’re normal. Admit it. But that doesn’t mean you have to throw the baby out with the bath water! Find someone else that shares the dream you probably still have or had and make a deal with them to continue your dream with you. Let them run point on the old dream and put your newest dream into action. You’ll feel better, your employees will appreciate you and your old dream will still grow!

When it costs more to do it yourself than have someone else do it

Time is money. Your time has value. Not only to yourself but to your company. Should they continue to may you some expensive rate to do what you’re doing or can you have someone else to the same thing at a substantial cost savings? If you can farm it out, or hire someone else cheaper with the same quality and productivity, then do it! Yes, when it’s your baby it’s sometimes hard to want to give up control, but it’s better for you sometimes to do just that. This will free you up to spend your time and money in another area where the return on your investment will be even greater.
Delegating may not be easy. Especially if it’s your baby that you’re giving away, it may be hard to give up some of the hands on control that you built and still feel. But, you many need to wisely let someone else help work with what you have built so that you can continue to build and grow. And, that’s goodness all around.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.



So, Let's consider: Being Average vs Being Great! 0

Posted by on in Family, Health, Let's Consider..., Life, So





So, Let’s consider: Being Average vs Being Great!

OK, so, let’s take a few minutes to look at and consider our lives and where we want to take them.
Nobody wants an average life or to be an average person. Frankly, there’s just too many of them and they generally don’t go anywhere. We all want to be GREAT! We want to be ABOVE AVERAGE. We want to succeed and make good things for ourselves and our families. So, let’s consider a few things we can adopt in our lives that maybe can help us move in that direction.

Turn OFF the TV

Fewer things waste more of our time that just passively watching TV. There is NO such thing as “must see TV” regardless of how much we’re bombarded by that slogan from the networks, etc. Frankly, just watching the tube for the sake of watching the tube, watching “your show”, etc., is a huge waster of your time that could be spend helping to develop and better you. Instead, read something daily. It can be a book, newspaper, periodicals that help to build you. And, I’m intentionally excluding things like: romance novels, trash and gossip magazines, porn, etc. You need to be reading things that will BUILD you up…not keep you at the same level or worse yet, take you down.

Make some goals

Set some goals for your life. What do you want to do with your life? Where do you want to be? Where do you want to go? Think about these things and set some goals to work towards achieving. This doesn’t mean you may change them later, you can, and you will, but you have a direction for your life, and that’s incredibly important.

Compliment people vs criticize

Think more on the positive side of things than the negative. This doesn’t mean that you give up your standards. Nor does it mean that you allow yourself or your beliefs to be walked on. But a more positive person goes places further and faster than a negative one.

Respect Change

There are those would admonish us to “embrace” change. Frankly, change for the sake of change is totally counterproductive. Evaluate what is changing and what needs to be changed. If something needs to be changed or if change is inevitable or good for you, then go for it! Make sure that the changes are in your favor, not just being done for someone else’s benefit or for being politically correct. If you don’t see a benefit for you, then that change may not be for the good.

Be forgiving

It’s important to accept that we’re all human. We all make mistakes to one degree or another, and in one kind or another. Be willing to forgive the honest mistakes of other people. I’m not saying here that you should accept malicious attacks, but when someone makes an honest mistake or mistakes out of sincere best mutual interests, accept it and move on.

Develop ideas and people

Instead of talking about people, develop them. Instead of saying everything is wrong, develop ideas. Show that you not only care about making things better but that you have positive input into the processes involved.

Be a continuous learner

Always be learning and bettering yourself. None of us know it all, and nobody likes a “know it all”. Learning is easy. There are many web based classes, youtube lectures and presentations, community colleges, even joining a local trade or hobby association can be incredibly good resources to continue your learning as well as personal and professional development. There is no such thing as standing still. You either move ahead or you fall behind. This is very true in the use and development of knowledge. Don’t stop growing.

Take responsibility

Some people like to limit this concept to just take responsibility for your failures. To me it’s more than just that. If you make a mistake, OK, own up to it and hopefully move on. Don’t blame someone else for your failures. But also take responsibility for helping other to NOT fail. Be a coach, a mentor, as well as a teacher. Also, don’t be afraid to be the student. It’s very important to know what you don’t know. Accept that. Build on it. Don’t blame others for it, but use it to identify where you need to be looking to expand.
OK, we’ve hit on a few topics. I’m sure you could probably think of a few more. If so, add them to your own personal list and build on them as you move forward to being someone great!

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.



There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't know…" 0

Posted by on in Business 101, Life, Management






There’s nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know…”
Have you ever been stuck having to listen to someone trying BS their way through a question or subject when they clearly don’t have a clue what they’re talking about? This happens frequently in meetings and other gatherings and you really just want to wave your big “Silence is Golden” sign above the crowd…or maybe just slip them a note that says the same thing?
It’s simple. Just learn how to say the three words: “I don’t know”…. There will be times when you’re put on the spot or asked to comment on a topic that you’re not up to date on. Sometimes these events are a surprise, sometimes you just draw a mental blank. It happens. Perhaps it’s something that you should have known but didn’t. And, this gives you a chance to do some further research in your spare time…
Perhaps you can even save face by volunteering to find the answer and supply it in an agreed to method and venue…
Face it, we’re not all knowing gods and we’re not supposed to know every answer all the time. Be honest and forthright with people and they will respect your candor and honesty.
You’ve been there before and you’ll be there again. Just a simple “I don’t know”, properly placed, may be all you need to say… But it would be a good idea to find out for next time.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.