Resistance to additional responsibility can stem from a number of sources. A clear lack of direction has to be the number one cause €“ this is where the manager/owner has not established any vision or business objectives. Without established priorities, how can key tasks be delegated?

Deficient or absent job descriptions clearly spell trouble. If the employee has no understanding of the basic roles and duties they must perform, how can they be motivated to assume additional responsibility?

Micro managing employees only leads to contempt and mistrust. Giving responsibility, but then managing over the employee's shoulder is simply wrong. An inability to assess required skill and the readiness to take on extra responsibility will result in delegating duties in an irrational manner. This is irresponsible and will surely lead to failure, workplace conflict, reduced performance and financial loss.

How a manager responds to problems, crises and mistakes will influence an employee's willingness to accept new duties. An employee may well remember a manager's past behaviour. Employees need to receive sincere praise when they have done a good job. Equally, they need feedback if they are having problems, which can help catch mistakes early and get the task accomplished more quickly.

As Bill Gates said, 'When employees know that mistakes won't lead to retribution, it creates an atmosphere in which people are willing to take chances in order to come up with ideas and suggest changes. This environment is important to a company's long-term success.'

Some employees may feel that it is the manager's responsibility to absorb problems within a workplace, feeling that is what they are paid for. The employee simply passes the problem (often referred to as 'the monkey') from their shoulder to that of the manager; the delegated task is reversed back to the manager.

A 'glory' manager delegates a role, but takes all of the praise. Employees have no respect for this type of manager and will resist taking on additional responsibility as a result.