#89 Discussing Task Allocation｜French for Business

To ensure a project runs smoothly, it is essential to clarify each person’s responsibilities and establish a shared understanding among team members.

When discussing task allocation in French, knowing how to express “who is responsible for what” will help you communicate more effectively in business settings.

In this lesson, I will explain useful French expressions for task distribution, including practical examples and ways to make polite requests.

Dialogue

A

j’aimerais discuter de la répartition des tâches pour le projet.
（I would like to discuss the task allocation for this project.）

B

Bien sûr, je vous écoute.
（Of course. I’m listening.）

A

Je peux m’occuper de la préparation des documents. Et vous ?
（I can take charge of preparing the documents. How about you?）

B

Je prendrai en charge le contact avec le client et le suivi.
（I will handle client communication and follow-up.）

A

Pour la présentation finale, qui pourrait s’en charger ?
（Who could take responsibility for the final presentation?）

B

Si vous êtes d’accord, je peux le faire.
（If that works for you, I can take care of it.）

A

Merci. Et si nous fixions la date limite au 20 mars ?
（Thank you. How about setting the deadline for March 20?）

B

Cela me convient. Je vous enverrai un planning détaillé.
（That works for me. I will send you a detailed schedule.）

1. Opening the Discussion

Begin by expressing your intention to discuss task allocation.

The phrase “répartition des tâches” (task distribution) is commonly used in project management, scheduling, and meetings.

A more formal alternative is:

Here, responsabilités means “responsibilities,” and is suitable for more formal contexts.

2. Offering to Take On a Task

To move the discussion forward, you can begin by stating what you can take responsibility for.

The expression “m’occuper de ～” means “to take charge of / handle,” and is useful for specifying your role.

A more formal alternative uses “prendre en charge ～” (to take responsibility for):

Clearly expressing what you can do is an important step in organizing roles.

3. Asking Others About Their Roles

Once you state your responsibilities, ask others about theirs.

Although short, this is a natural way to prompt discussion.

To make a specific request, you may say:

When requesting assistance, phrasing it as a polite inquiry is appropriate. In French, the conditional form “Pourriez-vous ～ ?” is frequently used for polite requests.

4. Assigning Responsibility

When determining who will take responsibility, a polite question can help:

The phrase “qui pourrait ～ ?” carries a soft, polite tone.

To volunteer yourself:

Using “Si vous êtes d’accord” helps avoid sounding forceful and shows consideration.

5. Proposing Deadlines or Scheduling

After roles have been determined, confirm the deadline and overall schedule.

The structure “Et si ～ ?” allows you to make suggestions in a gentle way.

To express agreement:

You may add information about follow-up tasks:

Documenting the discussion helps build trust and ensures shared understanding.

Summary