The terms Tasking, Tending and Trust are based on a study of what employees perceive as the most important working conditions individually and for cooperation. In practice, the approach implies that:
- the manager translates specific problems into specific tasks, in dialogue with the employee
- the manager ensures that the working conditions – including resources and support – are optimal (not perfect) for accomplishing those tasks, that the tasks are relevant, and that resources are spent for the good of the organisation.
- the employee has as much room as possible to take initiatives on their own.
According to Gillian Stamp, the use of these principles by managers is a response to employees' own wish to solve tasks with the highest possible quality and efficiency.
Examples of questions for inspiration:
Tasking (setting tasks and assignments)
- What are the most important tasks you work on? Write them down.
- How are you actually doing? Experience of both.
- How do the quantity, scope and difficulty of the tasks fit? Experience of both.
- Do you have the skills you need?
- How are tasks given to you?
- How are your tasks scoped and regulated?
- How could assignments be handled better around you in the future?
- What could we do in particular? What could others do?
Tending (working conditions, resources, follow-up, help)
- How are you on a general level?
- Do you have the resources and tools you need to succeed in your job?
- Where do you go when you need help or follow-up?
- Where do you go when you have problems or new opportunities?
- Where and how will you get even better support next year?
- What could we do in particular? What could others do?
Trusting (trust-based mandate and responsibility)
- What can you decide yourself, without asking anyone?
- In what situations should you confer with someone, and with whom?
- What things of importance to your job do you not decide?
- Are your room to manoeuvre and level of responsibility appropriate?
- How are these aspects of your job ordinarily adjusted/discussed?
- How could we and others better discuss your room to manoeuvre and level of responsibility in the future?
- What could we do in particular? What could others do?