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: \[\boxed{\text{The optimal strategy is (1) Delegation of Authority.}}\]