Which method do you use when allocating work? - SmartBrief

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Which method do you use when allocating work?

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Leadership

SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each week in our e-newsletter.

Last week, we asked: Which method do you use when allocating work?

  • To the first person available: 0.75%
  • Based on skill set only: 5.09%
  • Based on skill, availability and interest: 84.88%
  • I shift resources to the highest priority item:  9.28%
  • Based on first-in, first-out: 0%

Work allocation is multi-dimensional. Clearly allocating work requires multiple factors be considered.  If you’re one of the small minority of leaders using only skill set or shifting resources based on priority, consider viewing work allocation more broadly and evaluating all the critical aspects of doling out assignments.  Your team will perform better, be happier, and you’ll get more work done than you will by constantly shifting things around.

Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS and author of “One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership.”