They say
“Why me?”
Your response
“You deserve a clear reason. I’ll explain why I chose you, what I need you to own, and what support comes with it. Then tell me what concerns you about the assignment.”
First, check this
Why did you choose this employee, and can you explain that reason without inventing a development story after the fact?
Why this works
‘Why me?’ can be a request for purpose, a concern about fairness, or the beginning of a practical objection. Giving the real selection reason lets the employee understand whether the task follows from their role, expertise, availability, or development. It also makes the manager examine whether the assignment was thoughtful. The invitation at the end lets the employee name the actual concern instead of making the manager guess.
Don’t say
“Because I said so.”