Many leaders recognize they cannot do everything and delegating is necessary. But it also is important to know the types of decisions that best lend themselves to delegation.
In a Harvard Business Review article, Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder and CEO of Decisive, shares the following questions that can help senior leaders identify the best types of decisions to delegate.
- Who is closest to the action, and what can they see that I cannot? This question helps you identify the person who has the most direct, timely insight and clearest understanding of the context. The individuals doing the work often know best how to improve it.
- Is this a decision we have made before—and could it be routinized? There are routine decisions, such as evaluating vendor proposals, that repeat over time. You likely already have a process in place, and someone can use historical data or follow clear steps to resolve an issue.
- Whose perspective would lead to a better answer than mine? The perspective may come from someone who has experience and expertise or someone who does not have the expertise but still has the insight to find the right solution. It allows others to share their unique contributions.
- Where is momentum stalled, and who could move it forward with a decision? Sometimes, work stalls because no one feels empowered to move it forward or there is no obvious role that oversees it. Asking the question gives someone the authority to step forward.
Delegating decisions can help you free up time, energy and mental space while empowering your team members.
