One of Churchill's great beliefs was that being given responsibility without power was one of the most unsuccessful and least desirable things that could happen to him - or any individual:
"What you have no right to do is to ask me to bear responsibilities without the power of effective action."
"Few sensations are more painful than responsibility without power."
"My one fatal mistake was trying to achieve a great enterprise without having the plenary authority which could have to easily carried it to success."
"Someone has to take responsibility. I will."
I compare this to my own work situation - certainly most of my work life but more specifically the time I have spent at my current job over the last 5.5 years. What I realize - and I think is true of many if not most businesses - is that Churchill's complaint is a common one: being given responsibility with authority or the power to execute.
Being given responsibility can be a wonderful thing. It should be a sign of increasing skill and knowledge or a recognition of trust in one's abilities. But when the responsibility is transferred without any authority to carry out the responsibility the responsibility becomes nothing more in reality than a burden, a weight given by others with the intent to affix blame when the thing is not accomplished.
It is being given the responsibility of the budget without any control of the spending. It is being given responsibility for a project without any input into the project other than "Finish it". It is being charged with the building of a relationship without any ability to speak directly with the person involved.
It is being asked to do that which you cannot control yet be responsible for the results.
What to do? I realized (as I wrote this) that there really is only one solution: being clear up front. Specifically asking "What is my authority to accomplish this?" - and if not getting the response that works (i.e. "Total") simply stating "I cannot take responsibility for this project. I have no ability to requisition the resources, manage priorities, or drive the matter to conclusion meaningfully. Otherwise you are simply setting me up for failure."
Harsh words? Probably - but it will probably provoke a discussion, a discussion perhaps some people have not had in a while - if ever: what is the nature of giving responsibility?
Usually they (Management) tell you you have authority and backing then pull it when it's needed too.
ReplyDeleteOr just throw ya under the bus
I think that is often true Preppy, although I am coming to believe more and more that often full authority is not extended, only the amount of authority necessary to make one feel that one can resolve the problem. The measure, I suppose, is when the person given the authority can tell the senior person "No" based on what they have been charged to accomplish - if they can make it stick, then they have truly been given what they need to succeed.
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