071_Delegating a Task

071_Delegating a Task

To delegate means to give a job to someone you manage on your team (a subordinate). How can we clearly tell them what we want them to do?

Kevin:

Hello and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting Episode 71. A great place to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. In this business edition of the podcast we will look at phrases for delegating a task. This is part one of a two part podcast. In part one we will look at how to delegate in English and in the second part we will focus on offering to do a task and declining a task.
First, listen to this conversation. A manager is talking to his team about an upcoming trade show.

Manager:

Hi everyone. thanks for coming. The trade show at Makuhari Messe is just a week away and I’d like your help in getting a few things done. OK Robert. I’d like you to call Hakuhodo and confirm with them what time we can begin to set up our kiosk. The earlier the better.

Robert:

Sure, I can do that. Leave it to me.

Manager:

Now, I need someone to call the food catering company to finalize the menu for our hospitality suite.

Kathy:

can do that this afternoon if you’d like.

Manager:

Thanks Kathy, that would be great. Let’s see … we also need somebody to go to the airport to meet the engineering team from India.

Kentaro:

Why don’t I do that. I live pretty close to the airport.

Manager:

Could you? That would be great. Ah, Robert, I need you to pick up the video equipment from the rental company this evening.

Robert:

I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t. I have to go to my son’s baseball game.

Manager:

I see. That’s OK. Kathy, how about you. Can you pick up the video equipment this evening?

Kathy:

I’d prefer not to if that’s OK. My doctor said I shouldn’t do any heavy lifting this week.

Manager:

Oh right. Sorry, I forgot about your back trouble. Well in that case I’ll pick up the video equipment on my way home from work and bring it in tomorrow morning. So, Robert you’re going to call Hakuhodo,

Robert:

Uh huh.

Manager:

Kathy, you’re going to take care of the food.

Kathy:

Right

Manager:

… and Kentaro will Meet the Engineering team at the airport.

Kentaro:

Yes.

Manager:

I’ll get the video equipment tonight and then we should be on schedule. Let’s have a quick meeting tomorrow afternoon to review our progress. That’s it for now. Thanks everybody.

Kevin:

Did you notice how the manager delegated the jobs? To delegate means to give a job or task to someone who is usually less senior than you. Let’s listen again to the way the manager delegates three tasks.

Manager:

OK Robert. I’d like you to call Hakuhodo. —– Robert, I need you to pick up the video equipment – Can you pick up the video equipment this evening?

Kevin:

Here the manager uses the phrases “I’d like you to…” and “I need you to…” followed by a verb. to politely delegate tasks to members of his staff. To be even more polite, ask the question “Can you?” or Could you? followed buy a verb. Sometimes when you delegate a task, It does not matter who does the task. In this case the manager used “someone” and “somebody”.

Manager:

I need someone to call the food catering company – we also need somebody to go to the airport to meet the engineering team, from India.

Kevin:

Now why don’t you give it a try. Ask Robert to call the New York office. Don’t worry about being polite.
Good. You could have used one of these examples.
Robert, I’d like you to call the New York office.
Robert, I’d need you to call the New York office.
Now try that again but this time the person who does the task is not important.
What was your sentence? Listen to this example.
I need someone to call the New York office.
OK if you use these simple patterns for delegating tasks you will sound professional and in control. In the second part of this podcast we will study how to offer to do a task or to politely decline or say no to a task.
That’s all the time we have for this podcast. You can find a transcript for this podcast and listen to past episodes at www.nichibei.ac.jp . And be sure to check out the classes for the next term at Nichibei. We have classes in business, conversation, TOEIC, art and history and others. Find out why Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is a great place to build you future. Join us again for podcast 72.
This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.