Two main reasons can explain why a task isn’t accomplished or isn’t achieved correctly: lack of will and lack of knowledge/skills
Before having even delegated a task, it is paramount to ask ourselves two types of questions:
1- Does the person know how to accomplish the task? Does the person have the knowledge or the skills to complete the task?
2- Does the person have the will to complete the task? Is the person motivated to do it?
According to the answers acquired, the manager will need to adapt their intervention. Because if the answer to both these questions is no, then it is more than likely that the task will not be accomplished or will be poorly accomplished.
If the person doesn’t have the skills, nor the knowledge and that additionally, they don’t have the motivation to complete the task, the manager will need to increase their efforts to delegate. They’ll need to hold the person by the hand, show them, accomplish the task with them, in addition to making them want to do the task. Like for anyone who is learning to do something for the first time, the expectations will need to be set according to their specific starting point.
If the person wants to complete the task and is truly motivated to do so, but has never completed that task in the past and doesn’t know how to go about it, they’ll need to receive the necessary guidelines. The manager will be able to put themselves in a supporting mode, by being available and conducting follow-ups, all the while leaving them a certain autonomy.
If the person knows how to complete the task, but lacks motivation, the manager will be able to motivate them, explain to them the rewards earned from doing so and tell them what they’ll win from completing it (the famous «What’s in it for me?»).
Back