Delegation and accountability
Delegate outcomes with clear authority, resources and review points.
Covered in this guide
- Name one accountable owner.
- Provide the authority and inputs required.
- Set completion and escalation criteria.
Delegation transfers responsibility for defined work, not accountability for whether the system supports it. The owner needs a clear outcome, boundaries, information, authority and a route to escalate.
Hand over the work, keep the account
Delegation transfers responsibility for defined work, not accountability for whether the system supports it. The owner needs a clear outcome, boundaries, information, authority and a route to escalate.
A task that was delegated and then abandoned
A manager tells a junior colleague to “handle the partner issue” but withholds contract details and requires approval for every message.
Try this
Rewrite the delegation.
Review answer guidance
Define the outcome and deadline, share the relevant agreement, state which decisions the colleague may make, identify messages requiring approval, schedule a check-in and retain managerial accountability for unresolved risk.
What accountable delegation looks like
Name the owner, the decision rights, and when you will check. Delegation without a review point is abdication.