Leadership by Email Forwarding (LEF)
(Delegation / Communication Management)
A managerial style in which decision-making is replaced by forwarding emails to other team members, thereby ensuring that responsibility is always shifted but never assumed. The effectiveness of this method relies on an implicit chain reaction where someone eventually takes action.
Examples from practice
A department head who merely forwards client requests without adding value; an executive who cc’s unnecessary recipients to create the illusion of involvement.
Advantages
Allows for plausible deniability; ensures that someone else eventually deals with the issue.
Disadvantages
Creates confusion about responsibilities; decreases efficiency; fosters resentment among employees.