Are You Wearing Yourself Out?

Exodus 18:17-23 (Today's New International Version)

17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

(source: biblegateway.com)

Increase your Effectiveness: Delegate More

Sometimes, we get so caught up in “doing stuff” that we forget to leverage those around us. Our intentions are good; we want to do a good job or put our personal touch on what we are responsible for. We want things done the "right" way. These are all worthy reasons. However, what can you share with someone else today that will help them to grow and stretch while helping you to be more effective?

Jethro, in the scripture above, lays out a three-step plan for Moses’ corporate success. Consider how you might apply the same strategy to an area of your life where you are feeling worn out:

1) Acknowledge and be clear about what you are responsible for. Moses’ goal was to lead by example -  to show the people how to live according to God’s instruction. For you, it may be to manage a function or to align your department’s efforts with the objectives of your Organization. Perhaps you want to run your home more effectively. What, exactly, do you need to accomplish?

2) Find capable people to assist you. Moses needed to understand what he needed in the members of the Team that he was to lead. He needed a team that was trustworthy, capable and honest. What skill-set do you need that will assist you in meeting your goals? Are those the folks that you have lined up against meeting your goals? If not, you owe it to your ability to meet yours or your Organization's objectives to have the appropriate team around you  (please also consider that sometimes you need to rely upon those that you don't have direct accountability to get things done, leverage those folks).

3) Have a clearly defined escalation process. Be clear about what you want from the members of your team and where you would like to be engaged. To what extent are you willing to delegate responsibility to those that are on your team?

Moses had people lined up waiting for his personal assistance from morning to night. I imagine that today he would have emails “lined up” waiting for an answer; projects and initiatives on a long list of to-dos. His phone would be ringing off the hook with people that needed an answer from him.  Folks would be at his office door asking how and when things would be done.  Moses was tired.  I know that some of you are as well.

Jethro swept into town to give Moses a bit of good news and solid, energy-sustaining advise – don’t wear yourself out! Find a new process and strategy for getting the job done, while also sharing your load and lightening your burden. Your energy is a commodity. Spend it wisely. Give  people the gift of learning something from you and then, focus your energy where you are truly needed.

Comments

[AG]

Well said.. Perhaps you can address the rare circumstances where delegation doesn't work and you assume too much of the load. How do you regain solid footing and maintain sanity ?