Before Delegating, Make Sure the Owner Can Start

A task can have a clear owner and a sensible deadline yet still sit untouched. The person responsible may be missing a current brief, access to a shared folder or an introduction to someone whose input is essential. Before treating a slow start as a performance issue, check whether the work was ready to begin.

Walk through the first step together

At the end of a handoff, ask: “If you started this now, what would you do first, and what would you need?”

Use the answer to run a brief readiness check:

Information: Locate the current brief, reference material and any existing decisions. Point to the actual files instead of assuming the owner can find them. Clarify which version to use and who can answer unresolved questions.

Access: Confirm that the person can open the relevant documents and use the necessary tools through approved access arrangements. Resolve permission requests before the planned start; do not work around them by sharing passwords.

Dependencies: Identify any contribution needed from another person. Agree who will request it and when. If an introduction or leadership approval is needed, take responsibility for arranging it.

Capacity: Ask where the first working session fits alongside existing commitments. If there is no realistic space, adjust the workload, scope or timing together.

Record only the missing essentials, with a named person and a date for resolving each one. Avoid turning this into a lengthy checklist for every small assignment. The purpose is to expose practical obstacles while they are still easy to address.

A hypothetical workplace example

Imagine a manager assigns a coordinator to prepare materials for a client workshop. During the readiness check, the coordinator opens the shared folder and discovers that the current agenda is restricted. The coordinator also needs a short contribution from the facilitator.

The manager arranges the correct folder access and introduces the coordinator to the facilitator. The coordinator confirms a time to gather the input and reserves a working session to assemble the materials. Ownership stays with the coordinator, while the manager handles the support only they can provide.

Try this today

Choose one task you have just delegated. Ask the owner to walk you through the first step and name anything they cannot yet access or obtain. Resolve one concrete obstacle before requesting a progress update.

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