You're faced with a team of varied skill levels. How do you effectively delegate tasks for project success?

Experienced managers match the level of responsibility with an employee’s expertise. They know their team members and understand their preferences. When team members are assigned tasks they’re interested in, they are sure to perform better than expected. Decide with your team and put aside some time every week to check the progress of your team. Talk to them about the problems they are facing while completing the given task and suggestions on how they can proceed. By delegating tasks, you train your team members to be future managers and project management specialists. Teach them and be a mentor. Learn to say thank you. This will inspire loyalty in your team and provide them with the validation they need to continue performing splendidly.

Before you can delegate you need to have an inventory of you team’s skills. These skills should not be limited to technical / hard skills but should also include soft skills, such as time management, leadership abilities, etc. Team members should be assigned to tasks that they have abilities to successfully accomplish but also task s that will allow them to grow. For example, they may have been part of a successful team, but now they are the team leader. Small increments of responsibilities and assignments not only help generate confidence but also expand their skill to be considered for a wider variety of projects in the future.

Setting objectives for team members of varying skills should reflect their abilities, be achievable, put also help to push team members for growth. When a team member knows what they have to achieve, it allows them to use their abilities set up a plan for success. Ensuring that the objectives are achievable not only allows them to help the company but provides them of a feeling of success when they complete their work. Last, the objectives should not be so easy that the team member doesn’t need to put any effort in. Challenging objectives help the employee grow and prepare for future opportunities.

A couple of years ago, I was leading a team on a project with a brutal deadline. One afternoon, I found Mike, our designer, frustrated and lost in a sea of vague feedback. I could’ve just told him to "fix it," but instead, I pulled the team together—grabbed a whiteboard, sketched out exactly what we needed, and answered every question they threw at me. By the end, Mike wasn’t just clear; he was fired up and delivered a killer design. Over six years as a team leader, I’ve learned that communicating clearly—with all the details upfront—saves time and sanity. It’s not just about barking orders; it’s about giving your team the map they need to run. Ever had a moment where clear words turned chaos into progress?