delegation

The intentional transfer of authority, responsibility, and decision-making to a direct report or team member. Effective delegation is not task assignment — it transfers the outcome, provides context and constraints, and allows the delegatee to decide how to achieve the result. The RACI framework, RAPID model, and the manager's job description all rely on effective delegation as a core competency.

When you'd see it: Manager effectiveness coaching, leadership development, team scaling, operating model design.

Why it matters: Managers who cannot delegate create single points of failure and limit organizational capacity. As organizations grow, delegation is what converts individual output into team leverage.

Common mistakes: Confusing delegation with abdication. Effective delegation transfers authority while maintaining accountability — the manager still owns the outcome and should be available to unblock, not just disappear.

Related RACI, span of control, individual contributor, management layer