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COMPETENCY #2—MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP SKILLS 111

Situation: I was the editor of a leisure/entertainment/recreation

magazine. We needed to compile a restaurant directory for a region that in-
cluded more than six thousand restaurants. I believed that developing a
strong restaurant directory was key to success for the magazine, as I found
that most—if not all—of the current restaurant directories serving the region
were less than adequate. I originally thought I had to take on the task myself,
for two reasons. First, I was the only one who understood what a real restau-
rant directory should be, and second, I was the only one crazy enough to
care that all restaurants were adequately represented.

Action: I decided to delegate the job because I just did not have the

time to tackle the project. About the same time, however, I realized that the
newly hired assistant editor was very responsible and was the perfect choice
to take on the task.

Result: The assistant editor embraced the opportunity, making the di-

rectory into something even better than I could have hoped for.

Question 82. Recall an occasion when you got bogged down in a

task’s details instead of giving the job to someone else.

Situation: I was the director of special projects for an entrepreneur

who was involved in a lot of community projects. One of those projects was
running a breakfast event that was attended by the presidents of local cham-
bers of commerce and elected officials. Obviously there was a great deal of
protocol and exacting procedures to be followed.

Action: After getting bogged down in the minutia of who had to sit

where and what order people were to be introduced, I decided to focus in-
stead on my boss’s role at the breakfast meeting and let my assistant do all
the seat placement and agenda coordination.

Result: I was able to focus on the big picture and not worry about the

details. In the end, the breakfast went off without a hitch.

Question 83. Give an example of a time when you delegated a task

and, in the middle of the project, the employee asked you to take it over.

Situation: Because there was a lien on a client’s mortgage, she was

unable to sell her home. Two things complicated the matter. First, the client
indicated she had paid the debt but did not have a copy of the satisfaction
letter. Second, the creditor closed its doors several years ago. Since it would

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