“Let Pharaoh appoint overseers and organize the land of Egypt.”
The king of Egypt Pharaoh has asked Joseph only to interpret his complex dreams. Joseph doesn’t wait to be asked but shows initiative in volunteering ideas for improvement and offer a plan for averting disaster
“And Pharaoh said to his ministers, ‘Could we find another like him? … There is none so discerning and wise as you.’
Before delegating responsibility for preserving Egypt’s future, Pharaoh carefully considers the question of who would be most appropriate to assume this critical task. Pharaoh puts the question to his advisers in seeking to ensure that he makes a good choice.
The Big Picture “Let all the food of these good years that are coming be gathered and let the grain be collected.” … so that the land may not perish in the famine.”
Both Pharaoh – the delegator and Joseph-the delegatee, are clear about the big picture. The objective is to save the country from starvation and ruin. From the outset, Pharaoh and Joseph are on the same page as to the goal of the delegation.
Joseph lays out a specific plan of conservation and preparation during the seven years of plenty to prevent the seven years of famine from destroying the country. Pharaoh delegates what to do–avoid starvation–but it is Joseph, the delegatee, who determines how to do it. Pharaoh does not micromanage Joseph. Instead, he lets his subordinate develop and execute the details of the plan.
In this complex world, if we want the delegation to be successful, follow the Pharaoh’s example. Delegate what, but not how. Convey our confidence in the employee and the expectation that he /she will take primary responsibility for figuring out how to accomplish the objectives.
