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If you repeatedly find yourself giving instructions only to be let down time after time, perhaps you should consider how you’re delivering your commands. You may have a willing and capable assistant or employee who is simply not ‘getting you’ because your instructions are too vague. You may be facilitating insecurity and time-wasting as a result. Read on for some tips on how to prioritise according to Parkinson’s Law, how to set deadlines and how to delegate tasks more effectively.

Precise instructions and status updates

It’s important to give your instructions a context. For example, advise your assistant that you need to put a report together on a particular topic which is why you need him or her to schedule specific interviews. Keep your instructions as simple as possible and use plain English that doesn’t allow for misinterpretation.

Before you get started, make sure you’re giving the instructions to the right person for the job. Instead of asking if the person understands, rather ask them to confirm the task. When the person rephrases the instructions in their own words, you’ll be able to identify any possible problems.

If you’re still unsure, arrange for a status update to be delivered a few hours after the commencement of work. You’ll quickly see if the task has been understood and also how achievable it is.

Parkinson’s Law and the delegation of tasks

Use Parkinson’s Law to limit tasks to what’s really important to facilitate a more productive use of time. But first, before you delegate, be sure to eliminate what’s not important. Break large tasks into smaller tasks that can be completed quickly. Rather than assign tasks way ahead of time, issue them around 72 hours before the due date.

Giving a task 24 to 48 hours before the deadline may work just as well although you may have to delegate tasks to more than one person, depending on the size of the job. Delegating one to two tasks at a time will allow for a more focused approach. If you’re going to be issuing several tasks, make sure you prioritise them.

Tags: lifestyle