Use repeat-backs to avoid miscommunication

Get the Tip of the Day in your inbox!

Ever delegated work and then been surprised when the final product doesn't match up with what you thought you assigned? There's a simple way to ensure that the person you delegate to understands the project the way you do: Ask.

When you're done making a new assignment, just a simple "Can you tell me what you're taking away here?" can help to ensure you're on the same page before the other person spends hours on something that doesn't line up with what you have in mind. 

When an assignment is more complicated or will take more than a day or two to complete, you might ask the person to whom you're delegating to send you a quick email summarizing the assignment, including expected outcomes and next steps.

Almost invariably when you do this, you'll find one or two details where you and the other person weren't on the same page - which will give you the chance to clarify before work begins.

Ever delegated one thing and had a completely different result than you wanted? Share your stories of delegation disasters in the comments!

Alison Green writes for The Management Center and is the co-author of Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Leader's Guide to Getting Results

Photo from bm.iphone, via Creative Commons