Who is Catching? Dictate or Delegate

Words: Corey Adams

Most of us think we know the difference between dictating something and delegating it. My question is, how many of us can explain it?

I would venture that many have the same idea of delegation. In a nutshell, it is when you hand off a task or project to someone else to handle. I delegate my accounts payable to our accounts payable clerk— or any other wide range of tasks you can find in a construction company. In addition, most would say that dictating is micromanaging, but is it really?

For example, let’s say you have a pile of bricks to move from the front of a project to the back. Would you dictate this or delegate it? I would assume that almost everyone in the industry would dictate that. “I need those bricks moved out back.” Sounds like a direct order to me, but is it?

Have you considered the following question? Who did you ask to move the brick? A project manager, superintendent, foreman, mason, tender, or a guy off the street who showed up in boots he just bought last night on his first day? The receiver of the dictation or delegation often determines the side of the fence you are on.

If I ask a superintendent to move the brick, that is a delegation. They are more than capable of figuring out means and methods to get the brick moved and often already understand the why, when, how, and criticalness of the task. They can handle it.

If I ask the new guy, Mr. Shiny Boots, to move the brick, what will I get? They do not have the capacity for the project or task, so I am dictating. They have no idea why, how, when, or any other piece of information. I am very certain that we all have seen a new guy start carrying bricks when there was equipment on site to move it. In reality, how would they know? They got an order, then just put their heads down and tried. No shame in that.

Now to flip it. If I tell the same new guy, “Can you get with Bob over there on that telehandler and have him take this cube of bricks out back of the building to John? Hey, and make sure to walk around in front of him to make sure the path is safe.” What is that? Some call that micromanaging. Some call it a dictation. I call it giving the person you are delegating enough information to succeed.

What if I ask the same question to the superintendent? The whole Bob, John, and safety thing the exact same way. That superintendent is going to look at you like you have lost your mind. That is an obvious micromanaging dictation.

Where most of us struggle is that dictation and delegation are not as black and white as we were taught. Giving someone enough information to do their job successfully is not micromanaging. It involves leadership—mostly involved in the success of the individual or team you are delegating to. Giving the exact same wording to a 15-year veteran in the industry that is in your field management team is unequivocally dictating and absolutely micromanaging.

Before you shoot the messenger, I know that some people need more involved leadership. They may perceive it as micromanaging, and sometimes it may be, but it is always in the eyes of the receiver. Tone, word choice, nonverbal cues, timing—it all plays into how your words are perceived.

To reach the highest levels of leadership, you have to learn your team—what works, what doesn’t, and, most importantly, who you can delegate to, and who needs to be dictated to. You will always have a few that take your involved leadership as micromanaging. The real problem is that they are not upset about you being involved; they are upset that you are there to hold them accountable.

Learn the difference between dictate and delegate. More importantly, learn who needs what on your team. Using the same delivery method for everyone never works. Before you choose your next delivery, think about this: Would you throw a 90-mile-per-hour fastball to a 3-year-old? Would you roll the ball on the ground real slow to a major leaguer?

The point is this. The receiver matters. The majority of the time, the receiver matters more than the one throwing the ball.

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