Example one
The boss says: Did you send the offer?
Co-worker: “What? What offer?”
Boss: The one I asked you for a week ago…
Co-worker: You asked if we could do it, not that I should do it?
Boss: Are you kidding? The deadline was yesterday!
Co-worker: Sorry, we misunderstood…
And there will certainly be many such variants. A normal and common situation in many companies.
Why does this happen? Poor task assignment.
You’d think, well, it’s nothing. You tell someone to go and do it and they’ll go and do it. Isn’t it? Sometimes, maybe. The question is how often. Even something as simple as giving someone a task has rules. Very simple rules. This article will be mainly about them.
So.
Rule one
Assign the tasks in writing to one responsible solver and provide a deadline!
Regularly monitor and check the status of tasks.
You’d be surprised how common it is for a boss to assign a task but not set a deadline.
A task without a deadline is not a task.
It does not have to be executed. No word on when, so it may be in ten years. Or for longer 🙂 Tracking and checking the assignments is another problem. If we enter them orally, it’s a problem. If we enter them by email, this is also a problem. In both cases, the biggest problem is control! It’s clear in the oral assignment. There is no possibility of control at all. And in the case of emails? Hand on heart. How many emails do you have in your inbox? So mostly a clear problem again.
Example two
Boss: The offer is completely wrong, it’s missing (…something)
Co-worker: Well, you didn’t say anything about that.
Boss: And then I called you back to tell you that (…)
Co-worker: Yeah, I was just on my way.
Boss: You helped me out…
Collaborator: Okay, I’m going to do it again.
Rule Two
Please provide key points of the assignment in writing, as well as additional or clarifying information later.
Yes, always in writing. If we don’t, we will experience situations like the first and second example.
It’s not bureaucracy, slowdown, paperwork and who knows what other excuses I’ve heard. It’s speeding up, refining, focusing on the result. It’s just a check.
And now, just briefly…
Example three
Boss: Why did you work so many hours on this?
Co-worker: You told me to be nice to them…
Being nice is fine, it can just be quite expensive 🙂
Rule Three
Tell the solvers what time limit you are giving them for the task.
Sometimes it’s not easy, but the more we do it, the better we get at it.
Example four
Boss: Damn, when am I supposed to do all this? Three meetings and so many tasks…
Rule Four
Dump all of your tasks from your head into a to-do list. Value them by the estimated time they take. Think about when it is realistic to complete them.
It’s the same as the third rule, it’s not easy. If we try to do that, we can plan better and have more time. I’m adding a small addition to this rule:
And if it still doesn’t work out, learn for next time.
If you want to control the tasks, use 1CLICK. The most efficient task management solution far and wide.
If you also want to be effective, read the article How to be effective with 3 simple principles
