How to: Give Directions to Staff

In essence, being an effective manager is about being able to direct the work of others to achieve the best possible outcomes. It’s important to master the techniques and practices of giving directions effectively.

What does this look like?

Managers who give directions effectively:

communicate clearly
set challenging but achievable objectives
distribute workloads appropriately
have clear and well-organised plans
encourage two-way dialogue about work and results.

How can I do this?

1. Assess how you currently direct others

Assess whether you have the traits common to most effective managers. When you’re directing others:

are you patient?
do you show people that you value them?
do you give feedback in private?
do you treat people equitably?
are you well-organised?
are you composed and level-headed?

2. Continue building your competence

The Queensland Government Leadership Competencies describe the key competencies expected of managers in the Queensland public sector. Look carefully at these competencies and assess how well you do each one. Ask members of your team for feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. Identify two or three competencies you’d like to improve and create a plan for developing your skills in those areas.

3. Learn from others

Think about the managers you know who are effective at directing others. What do they have in common? Are there things they do which you can apply in your own role?

4. Check your communication skills

How well you direct others often depends on how well you communicate.

Think about whether you:

explain yourself clearly when you give verbal directions
write in a way your readers can understand
listen to others
give constructive feedback
respond to people—for example, do you get back to them when you said you would?

5. Delegate effectively

Good managers delegate tasks and give clear directions about what they want. They empower their people.

If you’re not delegating enough, think of some operational tasks you do which others could be doing. Involve your team in a conversation about what tasks can be delegated to who.
When you delegate tasks, give the right amount of guidance. Give enough that people know what they need to do, but not so much that they have no freedom to do the task in their own way.

Refer to the Micro-Skill Guide on How to Delegate, for more advice.

6. Be organised

To direct people effectively, you need to be organised and plan ahead so you can communicate clear goals and objectives and let people know their role in helping to achieve those goals.