Editor's note: This is a forwarded message from Biztree's Bullets of Productivity. I believe it will be of help to you.
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When assigning a task, it's easy to put yourself in the mindset "I'll give quick instructions to expedite the task and not waste more time than necessary". But that often ends up costing you more time in the long run.
Giving vague and sometimes haiku-like instructions has three undesired consequences:
1) it needlessly creates doubt;
2) it sends the message that the task itself is not important;
3) it makes the task doer less prone to ask you for clarifications, which often leads to a job that doesn’t satisfy your requirements.
Spending the extra time to thoroughly explain the task will avoid uncertainties and ensure that all important elements are in place.
Rushing through the instructions will be of no benefit to you neither to your subordinate or company at large. However, giving every minute details of instruction will help the person carrying out the task to perform to the utmost expectation and thereby contributing immensely to productivity.
