Step 1: Deconstructing the Query. The query pertains to strategies a manager can employ to handle an overload of work by distributing tasks. Step 2: Evaluating Alternatives. - Delegation of Authority: This practice enables a manager to assign specific duties and accountability to direct reports, thereby increasing their own availability. - Span of Management: This concept defines the number of employees a manager oversees; it is not a mechanism for work redistribution. - Direct Communication: While effective for conveying directives, it does not inherently reduce the manager's workload. - Close Supervision: This approach necessitates increased oversight, which consequently augments the manager's responsibilities rather than diminishing them. Step 3: Synthesis. Delegation of Authority is identified as the appropriate solution, as it facilitates the transfer of tasks to subordinates, thereby alleviating the manager's workload. Final Determination: \[\boxed{\text{The optimal strategy is (1) Delegation of Authority.}}\]