The 4-Step Plan That Would Make You Better at Assigning Tasks

Among the numerous duties and responsibilities a leader has when managing their team and business projects, one oftentimes requires extra attention and precision – I’m referring to the art of assigning tasks! But fear not – it may sound challenging and turbulent at times but having the proper mindset and the appropriate plan would certainly help any leader become better at work distribution and delegation!

Because the truth is assigning tasks isn’t a piece of cake – especially if you haven’t put the thought and work into it. As a matter of fact, if done wrong, you can even make matters worse – so today’s article is for you! I’m going to discuss why assigning tasks needs to be done the right way and I’ll also offer 4 useful steps that can help any leader get the best out of both themselves and their team.

Stay tuned and let’s get going!

Assigning Tasks Is the Most Frequent Style of Communication in Business Settings

Numerous times I’ve talked about the importance of proper communication at the workplace – I believe it’s the backbone of successful team and project management and without it, leaders and employees would oftentimes find themselves confused, lost and tired of trying to find out what needs to be done and what issues need urgent assessment.

We’re used to believing that business communication evolves around meetings, problem-solving, sharing opinions and views, determining the pros and cons of every situation, etc. – and while those are absolutely essential for a smooth work process, assigning tasks is the other side of that same coin.

Being good and precise at assigning tasks is absolutely essential – you need to know your employees’ strengths and abilities quite well in order to determine who is the best choice when it comes to a specific job. But what’s also important is how you distribute work and assign those same tasks – it’s the next level in business communication and the faster you acquire that skill, the faster you’d witness a plethora of benefits and small victories along the road of work delegation and team management.

The Way You Assign Tasks Is Equally as Important as Their Proper Distribution

The majority of leaders out there believe it’s enough to be aware of the team members’ strengths and expertise when it comes to delegating work – and while this is true, successful task assignment often requires the right approach and the implementation of the right tactics in order to achieve the best possible results.

Success mainly comes from sparkling one’s interest when it comes to doing a certain task – the more employees feel obliged to participate in a certain project, the less they’d feel determined to showcase their top expertise.

It’s the attitude that matters – as a leader, you need to realize that the success of any project depends on how well your employees would do their job. So it’s important to find impactful and thoughtful ways when it comes to task delegation – long gone are the days when bossing around and yelling orders do the trick. Luckily, nowadays employees treasure open and respectful professional communication – so if you can handle a proper leadership attitude, assigning tasks would quickly turn into a rather satisfying and gratifying experience.

Try These 4 Useful Approaches When Delegating Tasks

So once we’ve discussed why it’s important to pay extra attention to task assignments and how you approach employees with long duty lists, it’s time to implement some essential tactics and techniques that would make the entire experience smoother and more successful.

Provide Context With Every Assigned Task

Most of the time, leaders just proceed with delegating a certain task without going into greater detail. But the truth is that if we want the job well done, we need to provide further context – it brings clarity and does the employee justice.

Mentioning important aspects of the task such as deadline, requirements and reasoning (more on this, later), you, as a leader, leave no room for confusion and vagueness. This way the employee of your choosing can actually execute the task better, faster and more successfully. Opting for a thorough consultation or a meeting right before the start of the project will certainly benefit anyone involved – so try to avoid firing tasks without going in-depth when it comes to bringing more details to the table.

Be Precise with the Reasons Why

When you provide reasoning and explain why this certain task is needed and why you assign it to this particular individual, you strengthen the bond in terms of trust and mutual respect.

Instead of just assigning the task, try to explain why it’s important and how you think it will benefit the project in its entirety. Also, point out why you believe the employee is the best choice for the job – showing appreciation and making sure your team member feels acknowledged can only make the whole work process easier.

Give Your Employees the Opportunity to Speak Up Their Mind

Assigning tasks is in fact mutual work – on the one hand, the leader assigns the task and on the other, the employee has the right to decline it. Yes, that’s correct – giving your employees the opportunity to speak their minds is pivotal in terms of not only the project’s success but also yours as a leader.

Give your employee the chance to express their views on the job and whether they feel qualified enough. If the employee refuses to accept the task, respect their decision and choose another team member. At the end of the day, it’s important for everyone to feel heard and for their opinions taken into consideration.

Offer Feedback Both During and After the Task’s Execution

A lot of leaders are not fans of the micromanagement leadership approach – and that’s great, I’m not either! But there’s a vast difference between excessive micromanagement and offering feedback when necessary.

Once you’ve delegated tasks and duties to your employees, make sure you support their efforts by providing feedback on how they are doing and whether their efforts match the expected results. I guarantee your employees would greatly appreciate the feedback – this way they won’t get confused and anxious about whether they manage to live up to your high standards. Therefore, the whole work process will run smoothly and issue-free.

Mastering the Art of Assigning Tasks Will Definitely Level Up Your Leadership Game

I know – being a leader requires a lot of work, effort and dedication. But once you master the art of assigning tasks the right way, you’ll unlock a plethora of possibilities and benefits. For instance, you’ll help your workplace establish a more positive atmosphere, you’ll strengthen the professional bond in the team and you’ll quickly turn into the proactive and excellent problem-solver people are anticipating to turn to!