https://www.wrike.com/blog/10-phrases-that-you-can-never-saywhen-you-delegate-a-task/ - One key aspect of delegation is communicating clearly. Here are 10 things to NEVER say when delegating work to others if you want them to succeed.

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10 PHRASES
delegating a task
to never say when

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One key aspect of good delegation is
communicating effectively about the project.
But there are 10 phrases that are definite
no-nos if you want your project to succeed.

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“I know you haven’t finished that
section yet, but this needs to be
done right now!” 01.

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Reason:
Constant emergencies aren’t productive.
Better to rethink priorities from the start
and ensure the team understands.
A Better Alternative:
“Please make this task next priority when
you’re done with your current work.”

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“I know you’ve never done anything like this
before, but I’m sure you can handle it.”02.

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Reason:
It’s unfair to give them a task they’re
unprepared for. Allow them to specialize in
an area, or brief them properly.
A Better Alternative:
“Work with your colleague on this
so you can learn the ropes.”

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“It’s super easy.
Anyone can do this.” 03.

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Reason:
That’s like saying your colleague can’t
handle complex tasks. Don’t minimize
the importance of the task and never
doubt the skills of your team.
A Better Alternative:
“This task is important to the project;
that’s why I’m trusting you to do it.”

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“Just come up with something,
and we’ll see if it fits.”04.

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Reason:
Lack of clarity causes confusion
and delay. Better to compare
possible solutions with your
assignee and have them pick the
best option.
A Better Alternative:
“I’d like you to come up with a
solution. Here are the criteria to
use to assess possibilities.”

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“That’s not the way I
would have done it.” 05.

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Reason:
If the solution works,
does it matter if your
colleague did things
differently? Resist the
temptation to
micromanage.
A Better Alternative:
“Well done for coming
up with such a unique
solution!”

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“I’m going on a business trip for a week.
When I return, things need to be done.”06.

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Reason:
When crunch time approaches, that’s
exactly the time when you need to be
available. It’ll only work if you have the right
tools to keep you connected.
A Better Alternative:
“I’ll be away on a business trip next week,
but I’ll check in with the team daily to
answer any questions.”
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“You should have shown me
this before the deadline…” 07.

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Reason:
This phrase comes up when the
project delivers results you aren’t
pleased with. Better to set up
project milestones along the way so
no one is disappointed by the
results.
A Better Alternative:
“Is the project on track? Let’s meet
to see where we are before the
ultimate deadline.”

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“You should have asked me first before
making such an important decision!”08.

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Reason:
If an assignee doesn’t know his
or her responsibilities and the
chain of command, expect
surprising decisions and
results. Make things clear.
A Better Alternative:
“When it comes time to decide
on ____, let me know so we
can meet and discuss our
options.”

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“I’ve asked your colleague to
handle the task, as well.” 09.

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Reason:
This will make it feel like a
competition. Or that you
don’t trust the first person to
do a good job, and have a
second person to watch for
mistakes. It’s bad for team
dynamics, not to mention
inefficient.
A Better Alternative:
“I want you to work with a
colleague on this, but you
each have responsibility for a
different part of the project.”

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“This is not exactly what it’s supposed to
be, but OK, I’ll finalize it on my own.”10.

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Reason:
If you have to finalize it, what
was the point of delegation?
Instead, make deliverables and
responsibilities crystal clear
and only accept finished work.
A Better Alternative:
“This isn’t exactly right; let’s
meet about how you can fix it?”

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In the end, effective delegation
depends a lot on your choice of
words. When deadlines and
deliverables are communicated
clearly, your team will be better
able to complete tasks.

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For more detail on these 10
things not to say when
delegating tasks…
Read the full BLOG post
Click to read!

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