Leadership Delegation Mistake #1 - The Unclear Assignment

Ineffective leaders send their direct reports running off in the wrong direction.

Here’s how it happens from the perspective of those that report up to you.

1. Your boss assigns you a task.
   
   
2. You nod your head to accept it.
   
   
3. Then off you go…typically with many unanswered questions.

It can be very difficult to grab the attention of a busy leader and uncomfortable to ask clarifying questions if you feel like your boss thinks that you should already know the answers. Yet, as a leader, you do not want your direct reports use a misguided approach or spend time on the wrong project because they misunderstood the assignment from the beginning. To effectively delegate as leader (or to better manage your boss), follow these two simple rules to save time as well as save both of you the embarrassment of a project gone awry:

1. Outline your approach to the project. Set up a brief meeting to review the key deliverables, plans and milestones before embarking on the work itself to make sure that both of you are on the same page.
   
   
2. Get feedback and adjust your plan accordingly. At key milestones and decision points, hold check-in meetings to review progress, solve issues, and adjust accordingly.

To help your team to succeed the next time you give an assignment, slow down, be more specific, and answer any questions upfront.