How do we delegate without losing control?
Unclear delegation boundariesDelegate an outcome with decision limits, necessary context, and review points. Control comes from clarity and feedback, not from approving every action after claiming to delegate.
What to do now
- Define the expected result
- State authority and constraints
- Agree evidence and review checkpoints
- Provide support without taking back every decision
When to escalate
Escalate when
The assignee encounters a decision outside the delegated boundary.
Who decides
The team lead and appropriate line manager
Example
A workstream lead can choose task sequencing but escalates changes affecting the approved milestone.
Mistake to avoid
Delegating responsibility while withholding authority and information.
Prevent a repeat
Review whether working agreements improve delivery and raise people concerns through the appropriate channels.
Suggested ApprovedFlow setup
- Tasks
- Resources
- Documents
Make agreed responsibilities and follow-up tasks visible while keeping sensitive people matters in the authorized confidential process. See the platform
Related cases
- How do we rebuild trust after a missed delivery?Trust damaged by unreliable commitments
- The team has different standards for done. How do we align them?Inconsistent completion expectations
- Our project overlaps with another team's system. Where should the boundary be?Unclear scope interface
- The change board is a bottleneck. What should we delegate?Overcentralized change authority