Do you ever get confused at work when a task or project is assigned?
Listen in today to learn how to better manage tasks at work.
Who does what?
Michelle asks Lindsay why it’s important for a team to know who’s working on what.
Lindsay shares that this is extremely important so you don’t duplicate tasks.
It can also be helpful to have direction on what to do and who to ask if you need clarification.
Communication is always key to make sure everything is organized and working well.
In today’s episode, Lindsay and Michelle answer a listener’s question regarding clarification of assigned tasks or projects.
Today’s question
This question was posted on one of our YouTube vidoes.
This is a great place for you to ask us questions!
What does “I have Dino working on that” mean?
– @maralraei3789
This likely means that Dino has been assigned a task.
Assigning tasks in the workplace
When you hear someone say, “I have X working on that”, it means you’ve assigned that person a task.
Here is a mini roleplay:
Michelle: Okay, so who did we ask to consolidate the data?
Lindsay: I have Mark working on that.
In this scenario, it is very straightforward that the task is going to be given to Mark.
Michelle clarifies that when you say “I have” someone working on that, you are assigning it to them.
If you just say someone is working on that, it’s neutral.
It doesn’t say who assigned the task, but it is their task to do.
They may have chosen it for themselves.
Lindsay and Michelle share additional ways to discuss who is working on what.
These help you know if tasks are assigned or not.
#1: Asked
You can say that you asked X to work on Y.
It is a direct way of saying you told someone to do something.
It will sound like this.
Example:
I asked Kayla to work on the marketing campaign.
#2: Handling
When you use the term ‘handling,’ this is neutral.
You are stating a fact that the person is doing the task or project.
Example:
Jackson is handling the RSVPs.
#3: Put in charge
Here is another way to say you assigned the task to your co-worker.
You can use the phrase ‘put in charge.’
Example:
I put Jolene in charge of the slides and Casey in charge of the deliveries.
#4: Assigned
Here is another specific way to directly delegate a task.
You can say specifically you assigned this to a person.
Example:
I assigned the team to work on the budget.
Importance of staying on track
Michelle asks Lindsay why she thinks it is important to keep track of who is doing what.
Lindsay shares that it is chaos when no one knows what to do or who is doing what.
The All Ears English team uses Monday.com and a lot of spreadsheets.
It is important to keep track of everything to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
You want to be confident that things are done in a timely manner and no one is confused.
It is also helpful when everyone is informed of what is going on so they also know who to go to for clarification or questions.
Roleplay
Here is a roleplay from Lindsay and Michelle using the vocabulary and tips shared in today’s episode.
This will help you better understand how you can apply this to your own conversations.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle are supervisors talking about the next month’s work.
Lindsay: Okay, so you had the team meeting. How did that go?
Michelle: It was great!
Lindsay: Good! So who is working on the summer campaign?
Michelle: Well, Mary is handling the layouts of the flyers.
Lindsay: Oh she’s good at that.
Michelle: Yes, and I have Kyle doing the editing.
Lindsay: Perfect. I know Layla is interested in the actual presentation.
Michelle: Yes! So I put her in charge of that.
Lindsay: Perfect! And Paul is working on budget, I know.
Michelle: Right. I asked Henry to call our clients and do a survey.
Lindsay: Okay wow, great. Sounds like you have everything squared away!
Michelle: Thanks!
Takeaway
Clear task ownership at work prevents confusion, duplicated effort, and missed deadlines.
When teams clearly communicate who is working on what, everything runs more smoothly.
Making sure you are on top of your tasks and who is assigned which projects will make work much more efficient.
You can also use this vocabulary to delegate or assign tasks to other team members if needed.
Check out episode BE 512: Get a Move On With These Business English Phrases to learn more ways to communicate effectively at work.
What are other phrases you use at work to bring clarity to meetings or discussions?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
