Effective delegation: what it is and what it means

Effective delegation is the management practice through which a manager transfers to a team member a task with clear boundaries, a level of authority consistent with the task and measurable responsibility for the result. If any one of the three elements is missing, delegation is incomplete: a task without authority creates bottlenecks; authority without responsibility creates chaos; responsibility without authority creates frustration.

Distinctive: level of authority consistent with the task
Distinctive: measurable responsibility for the result
Essential: transfers to a team member
Essential: task with clear boundaries
Essential: three elements
Constant: management practice
Constant: task

Glossary

Effective delegation

A management practice through which a manager transfers to a team member a task, a level of authority consistent with the task and measurable responsibility for the result.