When you’re already juggling assignments and trying not to drop anything, it’s exasperating to have your boss toss more balls into the air. Especially, when you don’t know why the work is important, how to do it, or how your performance will be measured.

Instead of empowering their people, many leaders unintentionally trigger discouragement by the way they delegate. I’ve noted three toxic byproducts that surface after dump truck delegation. Each can be dangerously destructive, which is why I’ve termed them the “Deadly I’s”.

The Deadly “I’s” of Dump Truck Delegation

1) Insignificance

In hurriedly handing out to-dos, leaders neglect to explain the value of the work they’re delegating. Consequently, the person on the receiving end may not see the importance of what they’re being asked to take on. Overwhelmed and underappreciated, the designee may feel like a lowly grunt—someone who does the dirty work that isn’t worth the manager’s time.

2) Incapability

Dump truck delegators infamously bypass training. They divvy out work without offering guidance on how to accomplish it. As a result, they render their people incapable of doing what’s asked and set them up to fail.

People feel distressed when they lack the instruction or resources to do their jobs. Incapability gives them a sense of hopelessness, and they have trouble making any progress at all. On top of that, they may not seek help because they don’t want to appear needy or unknowledgeable.

3) Insecurity

Dump truck delegators do not take the time to define success for the work they’ve distributed. Accordingly, the people left shouldering the workload have no idea of what constitutes a job well done. Unsure of how their performance will be measured, people become insecure. No one, particularly in a slumping economy, wants to fall short of an employer’s expectations.

Without clear goals to guide them, people invariably let down the boss. Underperformance only adds to their insecurity. Soon, a vicious cycle has developed in which insecurity breeds failure, which leads to even greater insecurity.

Doing Delegation the Right Way

Dump truck delegation paralyzes your people and provokes resentment in those you lead. The unintended consequences of delegating poorly can wreck your team and halt your dream. How do you avoid the Deadly I’s? How can you delegate the right way?

Here is one practical suggestion to get you started down the right path:

Before delegating, draft a quick email describing what you’re delegating, outlining when it needs to be done, listing the goals of the project, and noting any relevant information that you need to pass along.

After you’ve delegated, update your email with any changes and send it out to the person you’ve delegated to. This accomplishes three purposes:

1. It forces you to have a game plan instead of delegating on the fly.
2. It clarifies expectations, goals, and deadlines.
3. It serves as a reference point for both parties. It’s amazing what gets forgotten during the course of a busy day. A written record helps keep projects from slipping through the cracks.