The Tribune

By REV CANON SEBASTIAN CAMPBELL

Question your motive as to why you are involved where you are right now. This should include even our involvement in the church. This investigation might show us doing some good things for the wrong reason. Amazing how we even believe that someone owe us something because we have been so “good and loyal.” At times we come to collect on our perceived investment only to discover that you are the only one who ever knew you had made such an investment. Yes, it is so tragic when we do anything in life with strings attached and therefore our motive soon becomes crystal clear, “we do the right things for the wrong reasons.”

One of the sins of us Bahamians is the fact that we do not delegate or share our ministry. True, many of us therefore cannot project towards retirement mainly because we glorify in the fallacy that we are irreplaceable. Many of us “kill” ourselves out only because we do not train persons to share our responsibility. The “poor-me” syndrome lives. Let’s look at some reasons why some of us do not delegate or glorify ourselves as indispensable:

1. We have a “worker bee” mind-set and do not understand the real role of management in developing employees/peers and directing their efforts.

2. Our super egos have convinced us that we are the only ones who can do the job at the required level of perfection.

3. We want to retain all authority and understand that by empowering others, we must give up some of our control.

4. We feel we just do not have the time to invest in the necessary hand-holding. We fail to realize that if we make the upfront investment in the important things, we will eventually stop being victims of the urgent matters.

Some ideas for the way forward to have us break our selfish hold on what we do and release our over empowering ego:

1. Identify someone with the capability (not just the willingness) to perform the task.

2. If the task is time sensitive, then be very clear on due dates.

3. Explain expectations.

4. Take time to write out procedures and do review them with the selected person.

5. Review progress on a periodic basis.

6. Stop being selfish and believe you are the CEO of the institution. You are dispensable.

Delegating should be a win- win proposition. It makes others feel empowered and valued and it frees you up to focus on other issues and therefore get more done for the right reasons. Too many Bahamians do not feel empowered. They feel trampled on and as nobodies, all because of our own super ego. Let us liberated ourselves and thus free our institutions/churches etc.