Relationship air cover

When your delegatee gets stuck, it’s because someone is withholding help, permission or information. Most likely it’s not malicious, just institutional inertia. Somebody needs to do something out of the ordinary and they can’t be bothered.

Go to that person and have a friendly chat. Show an interest in their world. Ask questions about it. Then explain what you’re trying to achieve with the delegation outcome, and why it matters to the organisation. Tell a story about your progress so far. Explain what needs to happen next, and how they can help.

Do not email, and do not call. Visit, in person.

Fifteen minutes of personal contact makes people real to each other, allowing tendrils of mutual empathy and support to grow.

Unless they’re really horrible, they’ll help, because it’s natural to help people who are real to us.

Think of it as providing “relationship air cover”.