31/08/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐๐ฏ๐๐!
Itโs so easy; one little thing that is left unsaid can turn the whole workflow on its head.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ 1
On Monday afternoon, Manager A tells Mr. Levin to create slides for the presentation on Tuesday afternoon. Manager A gets busy with other operational duties, and Mr. Levin gets right on with creating the slides, sensing the urgency. Heโs trying not to make the presentation look too short, so he adds pictures and infographics to complement the explanations. Then he encounters a technical problem with his laptop, which takes him nearly two hours to fix in the IT department. While the problem is being fixed, Mr. Levin carries on with other tasks for the day, and it takes him another 30 minutes before he gets back to IT to pick up the laptop. Now, closing time is in 30 minutes. Mr. Levin clocks off in 30 minutes with the intention of finishing the slides the following day. Manager A says nothing.
The following day, Mr. Levin puts off his normal tasks while he focuses on finishing the slides. Then one and a half hours before noon, he tells Manager A that the slides are ready. Manager A tells Mr. Levin that he should not bother submitting the slides because he has found an alternative. He also said he took that action because Mr. Levin did not do the task or deliver it when he needed it. Mr. Levin is slightly annoyed and unhappy that all his effort has come to nothing.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ 2
On Monday afternoon, Manager B tells Mr. Hart to create slides for the presentation on Tuesday afternoon. Manager B tells him that the slides should not be more than 12 and outlines the subtopics needed to be discussed. He also asks Mr. Hart to submit it to him by Tuesday morning so that he'll be able to vet it before the afternoon. Manager B gets busy with other operational duties, and Mr. Hart gets right on with creating the slides. He knows he has about 24 hours to complete this task.
While working on it, he encounters a technical problem with his laptop, which takes him nearly two hours to fix in the IT department. While the problem is being fixed, Mr. Hart contacts Manager B letting him know he had just encountered a major setback that would affect his delivery. Manager B acknowledges it, shifts the delivery time to noon, and delegates Mr. Hartโs other tasks for the following morning. Mr. Hart carries on with other tasks for the day, and it takes him another 30 minutes before he gets back to IT to pick up the laptop. He updates Manager B on his progress and continues working on the slides. Now itโs closing time, and he happily clocks off, knowing that he could simply finish tomorrow.
Mr. Hart resumes the following day and focuses on the slides, which he finishes before noon. Manager B vets. There are minor corrections and additions. Mr. Hart returns to his other duties, and the presentation goes on as planned.
Naturally, most people will prefer to be in a Scenario 2-type of situation. However, do most people communicate effectively to achieve this?
๐๐ค๐ง ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ง๐จ
Communicate early and clearly: This means give out instructions at the right time, long before you need the results. Spell out exactly what you want done and how you want it done if it must follow a specification. Most importantly, tell your subordinates when the task will be due. Somehow, when leaders skip this, they leave the subordinate to spend whatever time they can on the task. Thereโs usually no automatic submission.
When tasks are late, ask for updates and listen for feedback. As tempting as it can be, NEVER assume that the task was just left to rot away. NEVER give a reaction to that assumption first before finding out what really happened with the task.
Be ready to lend whatever support is needed if your staff genuinely needs it to execute a task.
๐๐ค๐ง ๐จ๐ช๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐จ
Always ask when your task is going to be due whenever itโs not mentioned. If the timeline and expected delivery look rushed, youโre supposed to ask for a time that works within a reasonable timeframe.
Update your manager every step of the way. Let them know that youโve just spent two hours on the task and it will take approximately another two hours to complete. If you encounter setbacks, communicate your setbacks immediately. Donโt struggle to finish the task alone.
Leaving a task undone as soon as it is given is absolutely unacceptable. Work within the time prescribed. If there is any valid reason you would be unable to begin with the task immediately, communicate this as soon as it is assigned to you. NEVER take on a new task in addition to the current one youโre handling. Donโt think that youโll deliver them all together. This slows down productivity and can increase stress levels.
Finally, when these little communication gaps are filled, work flows more smoothly for all involved.
ยฉ๏ธ Tutor Precious
๐๏ธ Africa's foremost Educator and Thought Leader