These tips were published by Forbes.
Be specific and clear
First and foremost, avoid any vague phrases. Forget vague managerial language or beating around the bush. Explain what you want the team to do in a clear and understandable way so that there can be no misinterpretation.
Explain the reasons behind decisions or requests
Telling the team what needs to be done is often not enough. In fact, it is often necessary to tell them the reasons why it is necessary to do things the way you want. If you fail to explain, your subordinates may not recognise what your top priorities are or why you are demanding something that to them seems unnecessary. As a result, they may do something you did not want them to do at all.
Make more use of written communication
Maybe your team does not understand you because you use mainly verbal instructions. Try written communication instead. Its advantage is that people can read the message as many times as they need to and come back to it anytime later. Another plus is that you yourself can read what you have written in sequence and, compared to spoken language, better assess whether the message sounds the way you want it to.
Set a clear timetable
Set deadlines with your team and a clear timeline for completing the project or request. Without a specific timeline, you may very well end up misunderstanding priorities and causing delays in project work.
Regularly check progress of the project or task
Your job as a manager should definitely not end with assigning work. Maintain a continuous interest in how things are progressing. Depending on the scope of the project, either a weekly meeting will be enough, or perhaps a quick check next morning to see if everything is on track.
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