📝Delegating tasks down the hierarchy amplifies urgency

tags

§ Management

When delegating/cascading task down the hierarchy, the task becomes more important (because boss’s boss asked to do it) and more urgent. We often don’t ask for the priority and assume it is important just because top management asked for it.

Also, even if the task has a deadline, each manager might shorten it a bit (so there is time to verify it and fix if necessary). When the task hits the executor, it might have very strict time constraints.

This extra urgency makes the task more stressful for the final executor. (However, this extra urgency is usually not intended by managers.)

The way out:

  • for each task, ask how important it is and what are deadlines

  • if you work on another task, ask your manager to prioritize

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