by Rick Baker
On Sep 3, 2013
The 4 Hierarchies of Delegation
When you assign responsibility and expect accountability you can give your subordinate one of the following 4 instructions:
- Investigate, report facts back to me, and I will make a decision on what you need to do.
- Investigate, give me alternative actions, with pluses and minuses of each, and give me your recommendation on the best option...then I will decide what you need to do.
- Think it through then activate your plan and advise me of what you did.
- Think it through then activate your plan and there is no need to inform me.
These progressive steps for delegation of decision-making authority can be summarized as:
- Think, let me know, & I will decide
- Think, recommend, & I will decide
- Think, take action, keep me informed.
- Think, take action, no need to inform me.
These steps can be used to help people learn how to handle responsibility and authority.
These steps can be used to build trust between bosses and their subordinates.
These steps can be used to help people learn...and develop Decision-Making knowledge and skill.
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Subordinates should be accountable for their performance of delegated tasks. This can be achieved by:
- Evaluating performance based upon subordinates staying within authority boundaries.
- Measuring performance based upon achieved results.
- Scheduling update meetings with the subordinates.
- Listening to subordinates and coaching about action adjustments.
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To be successful subordinates must be given the following structure:
- A detailed job description
- A written system to be followed
- Training, coaching, & mentoring
- Goals that can be measured
- Goals that are achievable
- Guidelines and standards of performance
- Timeline schedules to be followed
- Authority to act (Levels of authority should be pre-assigned...see above example of 4 Hierarchies)
- Rewards for performance of actions and results