The hot potato delegation technique
Anytime I’ve delegated work to someone, I’ve generally tried to be direct and clear. Here’s something I’d like you to do. When I have been passive aggressive I’d say, do you want to do this? (Fully knowing that “want” is not much of a choice since their manager is asking).
Recently, in hearing a friend describe my ex-boss’s approach I realized there is a third way. He is just describing his wishes. As desires, or complaints, or disappointments. Wouldn’t it be nice if…, Why hasn’t this been fixed? Am angry we haven’t figured this out yet.
And he is broadcasting these to his team. Please note, no one is being explicitly asked to do this. But somebody out of loyalty or love or responsibility or if-they-don’t-do-this or guilt or saviour complex or whatever emotion they are feeling chooses to ‘catch’ it. They volunteer themselves. They opt-in. They choose it. They play the hero. They catch the hot potato. And now, not only do they have to do it, they can’t even begrudge it being assigned to them.
A far more sophisticated delegation technique, and only very slightly evil.
And…this can even happen in families, between friends and in relationships.