When have you made a mistake delegating tasks to your team members?
The expression if you want something done right you have to do it yourself is often spoken by those whose communication skills fall short of delegating effectively. Being able to delegate to your team requires getting them invested in the work they'll perform and thereby motivated to perform at their best. It also requires playing on the unique strengths of each teammate, portraying the big picture, how each member's contributions to a team effort affect the others, and a clear understanding of the expectations and the stakes involved.
Yet, sometimes these lessons are hard-learned, and mistakes or miscalculations are made. Being able to admit to these occasions does not exhibit weakness, but rather strength of character, especially when you've learned from these lessons and applied them toward your success. No one can hold over you that which you already own. So share with your interviewer a time you ran into such issues, how you held yourself accountable, and how you repaired the mistake or reduced its negative impact.
"Earlier in my career, I would delegate tasks at random, thinking that everyone had the skills to complete any company-related task. I found that these employees would procrastinate on these tasks if they seemed overwhelming or if they did not understand them. After a bit of time, and some learning, I began to delegate based on personality type and skill set. This method proved to be much more effective and I follow this delegation style to this day."
"I am usually cautious when delegating tasks because putting the wrong person in the wrong function can be a dangerous and expensive, mistake. A few years ago I put an employee on the incorrect piece of machinery, thinking that he was certified to operate that bit of equipment. I am now sure to double-check credentials before delegating."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
When I started my career I would sometimes be the crew lead for a wireline truck and would delegate tasks that were occasionally outside of the scope of the operators. I remember I had one of the operators set up a well-logging tool for me while I set the software up. When I returned for a final check before beginning operations I found that they had set up the tools incorrectly and the work had to be redone. It was a relatively simple process in my head but I realized that he had never been trained and he was afraid to say he didn't know how to perform the actions because of my position of authority relative to his. That was a case where I realized that I needed to make sure by checking to make sure that people are comfortable with the tasks they're being assigned and making sure that they understand that it's okay to make mistakes and failure happens but we should learn from our mistakes and move on.
Marcie's Feedback
Perfect! It's clear that you learned from this mistake. That's what the interviewer will be most interested in hearing. Excellent job!
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