Learn to Delegate but Inspect What You Expect

As leaders, one of the most difficult things we must learn is the art of delegation. Leaders have a tendency to want to be in control. We think we know what has to be done and the best way to do it. But we must realize that we cannot do everything ourselves.

If we want to grow and excel, we have to delegate. We cannot advance our team to great heights unless we distribute some of our leadership authority and allow others to assist us with our goals and objectives.

Hotel Equities’ Value Statement #4 provides direction for delegation: Inspect what you expect.

In order to achieve success we must hire associates with a hospitable, positive attitude; provide them with proper tools and training, set clear expectations of the work to be done; inspect what we expect and encourage and reward excellent results.

Using this model, everyone wins -- our associates, our guests and our investors.

Number 42’s Message for Leaders

My wife, Christine, and I recently saw the movie “42”. It was great and I highly recommend it to all, even you non-baseball enthusiasts. As you may know, it’s the story of Jackie Robinson’s signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers to become the first African-American player to break the baseball color barrier.

In the movie, set during the 1946 and 1947 seasons, Robinson, number 42, focused on his strengths as a baseball player and not what his detractors were saying about him. In doing so, he won the hearts of many people and eventually his influence helped to break the race barrier for other players, too.

The irony here is that Robinson had a temper and was known to want to fight all who disagreed with his viewpoint. Thank goodness he allowed his baseball skills to do the “talking” and the rest is history.

Jackie Robinson’s story reminds us that, as leaders, we should focus the majority of our time developing our strengths. Tasks which accentuate our weakness can and should be delegated to team members who have the expertise to make all of us look good.

Batter up!