When to Delegate a Decision

Published: Aug 19, 2004

Your Management Style

If you have only one fixed management style your delegating will experience many problems. Better quality results from having different styles for different situations. These styles can range from autocratic, to consultative, to complete freedom for the delegate. Your management styles range from no delegation to complete delegation.

Delegating varies over those range of styles.

Manager makes the decision and announces it. [No delegation]
Manager "sells" his/her decision to gain acceptance.
Manager arrives at his/her decision or presents his/her ideas and invites questions. [Benevolent]
Manager presents a tentative decision subject to changes from subordinates and associates.
Manager presents the problem, gets suggestions and then makes the decision. [Consultative]
Manager defines the limits and requests a group, on which he could be a member, to make a decision.
Manager permits a group to make the decision with prescribed limits.
Manager entrusts a group to perform all processes to reach a final decision. [Complete delegation]

Questions to Asses a Situation

Is there a quality requirement?
Is the decision critical to the ongoing success of the business?
Who has sufficient information to make a high quality decision?
Is the problem simple, structured or complex?
Is acceptance of the decision by subordinates critical to effective implementation?
Do subordinates accept all or most decisions made by the manager acting alone?
Do subordinates share the organizational goals relating to this decision area?
Is there potential for conflict among subordinates for certain solutions?

The answers to these questions guide you to decide what management style is appropriate for any given situation or desired result. Your opportunity to delegate exists when delegate(s) possess sufficient information, are acceptable or respected by others and are capable of making a good decision.

When to Delegate a Decision

Your Management Style

Delegating varies over those range of styles.

Questions to Asses a Situation

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