A lesson in delegation and trusting

During my travel from Vellore to Pondicherry on Monday mornings, when Anna was still working at Vellore, I used to see this sight of bullock carts on auto pilot going from, Arni to Gingee. The cartmen would normally leave Arni around midnight, to reach Gingee at dawn to collect sand from the river bed. Often five to six carts would be moving together. 

The cart men would lie down to sleep in the luggage carrier of the cart, while the oxen would take the cart to the destination. I have deliberately slowed down the car to observe, how the oxen would cross road where there are cross roads or choose the right road when there is a bifurcation. They do it confidently and easily.  One cartaman told me that, that it would take five or six trips for a new ox to get familiar. When the oxen have reached the place, they would stop even if the cartman is asleep. 

I have viewed this as an outstanding example of trust which the cartmen exercise with no hesitation. 

We place lot of emphasis on delegation of responsibilities to members of the staff in an organization or at the work place. We do so with too much of of supervision sometimes. One of the reasons for tension or conflict at work place is, that the delegated responsibility is still tightly supervised that a person does feel let down. He or she does not feel trusted to do what is expected. Most people would feel even more responsible if they know that they are trusted to deliver. Any form of unnecessary interference or remote control or supervision that stifles initiative would only promote dependence and not capacity building. 

The delegation is best done to a colleague, when there is proven track record of trustworthiness. Once it is done, it is wise to wait till he or she approaches with a question, difficulty or suggestion. This promotes empowerment. Most people would like to work in  a setting where they are also the decision makers.

When Jesus of Nazareth decided to have a meal with his immediate followers, before his crucifixion, he asked two of his followers to prepare the room for the meal. Jesus guided them to the place and we read nothing more than that in the Gospel narration about any other instruction. All the details were left to the discretion, planning and imagination of two of his followers. In fact, the 'last supper' became a symbol, which His followers celebrate every time when they meet together to worship. An outstanding example of delegation and trust! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)