Prepare instructions for the participants
Take notes:
– how often the employee came to you
– how many questions they asked
– how many times they asked for a decision, and how many times for advice?
Instructions for the employee:
Go to the room where your manager is and follow the manager’s orders. You will work according to their instructions related to the Jenga tower in front of you. You have 6 levels of delegation at your disposal:
– Level 1: gathering and providing information
– Level 2: gathering and providing information and providing suggestions
– Level 3: gathering information, developing an action plan, obtaining approval
– Level 4: gathering information, preparing a comprehensive action proposal, and implementing it under supervision
– Level 5: gathering information, preparing and implementing an action plan + reporting
– Level 6: gathering information, preparing and implementing an action plan
Divide participants into pairs and different rooms
In pairs, we have two roles: “manager” and “employee/team member”. Ask the group of managers to go to another room. The Jenga block set should be located in the room where the employees are. Managers must not know the content of the task for the employees. Distribute the tasks and provide instructions.
Perform the exercise
Give participants 15-20 minutes for the exercise.
Analyze what happened
What will probably come out in this exercise:
- The lower the delegation level – the more running between rooms and discussions, and waiting for a decision
- Frustration with the lack of a sense of agency, wasting time walking between rooms and waiting for the manager’s decisions
