I missed a key step in delegating this weekend.

A neighbor kid came over to help strip wallpaper in the kitchen.

I did a good job bring up all the supplies we would need for the project before he came.

I showed him how to score the wallpaper with a old steak knife and then rub the wallpaper removing goop on it.

I explained why.

Then I demonstrated how to strip the wallpaper after the goop had time to work.

Get an edge started and then try to pull as long a strip as you can.

So far, so good.

This is where I dropped the ball: I started working on the part between the cabinets and the ceiling.

An hour later, I had removed half the high stuff, and he had removed a 6 x 10 inch strip from the backsplash area.

I didn’t watch him and give immediate feedback on the stripping part.

He must have been picking it apart in postage stamp sized pieces.

I missed a key step.

Now this task is (thankfully) a one time project.

But you might be facing the same deal with a team member.

Afterward, I analyzed what I did well, and what was missing.

You can do the same to fill in training gaps.

The kid wanted to do a good job.

Your team member wants to do a good job.

Figure out what is missing, so that you can both get what you want.