Vocabulary

• Read and translate new words and expressions using a dictionary.

key duties, coordinate, priorities, appropriate, subordinates, competence, staff, promotion, lack of confidence, judgment, self-confidence

• Try to give their definitions in English.

• In pairs make sentences using expressions from the list above.

Pre-Reading task

Scan the text and answer the question: Are you secure enough to delegate effectively?

Reading

Read and translate the text.

Are You Secure Enough To Delegate Effectively?

The key duties of a manager are to plan, organize, coordinate, set goals, establish priorities and think creatively. By delegating appropriate tasks to subordinates, a manager saves his time for these important tasks while saving his organization money by completing a job with a lower-paid employee. Additionally, delegation enriches the jobs below by providing challenge, authority and variety.

As an element in training, delegation enables subordinates to demonstrate their competence, win greater recognition and gain confidence. Rather than simply taking orders, subordinates learn by thinking through a problem, establishing a plan and then performing the task.

When a manager develops a staff that demonstrates competence, his reputation grows. Talented staffers seek jobs in his or her department. Morale, respect and trust grow within a department as more gets done. Recognition follows and top management can see that with the staff fully trained, the manager is ready for promotion.

Barriers to Practice. Despite the potent benefits, there are dozens of reasons why managers don't delegate. Some are based on rational reservations. Others are more emotional or psychological. Here are some of the most common:

Lack of confidence in subordinates. This syndrome is best described as "What happens if something goes wrong?" Fearing unsatisfactory results, a manager may suspect a subordinate's judgment or ability to follow through.

Some managers are perfectionists. With such high personal standards, they know they can do the job better than a subordinate and fear substandard results. As a result, if they do delegate, they feel they must keep track of every detail.

Lack of self-confidence. Many managers, especially those recently promoted or hired, feel insecure. They may feel overwhelmed by their new responsibilities and fear their boss, peers or their subordinates. As a result, they regress to the familiar security and routine of the work they did before they became managers.

Poor definition of duties. A manager must have a clear understanding of her responsibilities and authority. She can delegate only those responsibilities that have been assigned to her. If she's unsure of her own power, she can hardly be prepared to delegate properly.

Work with the text

• Give definitions to the words in bold.

• Define the part of the speech.

• Give examples from your own experience to justify the points of the text.

Translate from Russian into English:

• Ключевые обязанности менеджера - планирование, организация, координация, постановка цели, расстановка приоритетов и творческое мышление.

• В качестве элемента обучения, делегирование позволяет подчиненным продемонстрировать компетенцию, завоевать большее признание и завоевывать доверие.

• Боясь неудовлетворительных результатов, менеджер может подозревать подчиненных в осуждении или неспособности оправдать ожидания.

• Они могут почувствовать загруженность своими новыми обязанностями, бояться босса, коллег или подчиненных.

• Если она неуверенна своей собственной силе, она едва ли может быть готова к тому, чтобы уполномочивать правильно.