The Importance of Early Check-Ins

A common delegation pattern goes like this: the manager explains a task, the employee nods, the manager asks whether there are any questions, and the employee says no. The meeting ends. Then the employee returns to their desk, starts working, and realizes they do have questions.

That is not unusual. Questions often surface only once someone is actually doing the work and runs into the parts that were not obvious at first. But by then, asking can feel awkward, especially after just saying they had none. So instead, they try to figure things out on their own. From the manager’s side, everything looks fine, but the result is often wasted time, unnecessary effort, and worse outcomes than a quick clarification would have produced.

So, one or two days after delegating a task, call the employee or stop by their desk and ask whether any questions have come up. Don’t wait more than 1-2 working days: that’s long enough for them to have started the work and encountered the real uncertainties, but early enough to prevent them from going too far in the wrong direction. In many cases, they will have at least one question, and a two-minute conversation can save hours later.

Avoid doing this by email or Slack when possible. In writing, people are often more hesitant to admit uncertainty. And without tone of voice, you cannot hear hesitation or gently draw them out. A quick phone call or in-person visit works better.

Also, avoid scheduling a formal meeting unless the task is major or business-critical. A brief, informal check-in makes it easier for someone to say, without pressure, “Actually, yes, I do have a question.”

Good delegation does not end when the task is assigned. A short, informal check-in soon after makes it easier for people to ask the questions they did not yet know they had, preventing avoidable mistakes, wasted time, and unnecessary friction.