Delegating work effectively is a key managerial skill. While passing decision-making responsibilities to employees can be a way to give them control and valuable experience, done incorrectly, it can be perceived as unfair, burdening teams and damaging workplace relationships. Here’s how you can successfully give your employees more decision-making power.
 
Delegate decisions with positive outcomes. Only delegate decisions that lead to favorable results, and avoid delegating decisions with negative outcomes. Delegating a positive decision is viewed as fairer than delegating a negative one.
 
Delegate within existing roles. Ensure the decisions you delegate align directly with the employee’s role and expertise. Only assign decisions that fit their job description to avoid perceptions of unfairness.
 
Limit impact to the individual. Delegate decisions that affect only the employee, not their team. Employees are more willing to take responsibility for decisions that impact them personally.
This tip is adapted from “Research: How to Delegate Decision-Making Strategically,” by Hayley Blunden and Mary Steffel.
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