Delegation. Not my strong suit. Many years ago when I worked as assistant manager for a retail clothing store it was the number one critique on my yearly review time and again. I just felt I could get things done faster and better if I did them myself. I still do.
Fast forward any number of years and now I have three people working directly under me – or not working as the case may be. Sure they are only three, eight and ten but – as my husband often helpfully points out – they are more than capable of doing any number of the chores that I complain about not having the time to do on a daily basis.
I do see his point, but it can feel like a whole other kind of chore to teach someone else the fine art of folding the laundry, vacuuming the carpet… and don’t even get me started on loading the dishwasher. That’s something even people who work together like a well-oiled machine most days can’t get right.
But I’m trying.
I’ve made a list of simple tasks that need to be done every day – laundry, dishwasher, weeding – and I make an attempt at holding them accountable for getting them done. And honestly, on the days when I let them do what I know they are capable of – sure things are a little less neat and tidy, but were they really going to be that much better if I did it myself? Well, maybe a little. But I sure feel a heck of a lot better with a semi-clean house and a little more time on my hands to devote to other things. Like writing this column.
See, it’s a win-win!
