Status: LIVE

Delegation levels

Level 1 | Tell: I will tell them

I make the decision based on the criteria that I think are most appropriate, and once made, I will communicate it. 

Example: The decision of which dishes to choose when ordering food in a restaurant. I will choose the dishes. No one else’s opinion matters.

Level 2 | Sell: I will try and sell it to them

I make the decision, and then I will explain it, detailing the reasons why I think it is the most appropriate option. 

Example: I assign a weekly allowance to my young children, explaining why I think this amount is fair.

Level 3 | Consult: I will consult and then decide

I make the decision, but I will do it after hearing different opinions. 

Example: I choose a restaurant after asking someone who knows the area so that I know the best options, considering that I prefer Italian food.

Level 4 | Agree: We will all agree together

The decision will be made jointly. It can be by agreement, by majority, by vote… but we make the decision together. 

Example: What movie to go to with the whole family. We decide on the movie together.

Level 5 | Advise: I will advise but they decide

At this level, the delegation formally begins. We can express our preferences and possible criteria to take into account, but the decision is made by the collaborator. We can influence the decision, but without fooling ourselves: it must be made by the collaborator. If not, we are really implementing a covert Level 3. 

Example: When our daughter decides which college to attend. We might give her our advice, but the ultimate decision is hers to make.

Level 6 | Inquire: I will inquire after they decide

This is one more level of delegation. We do not even express our preferences; we simply want to be informed of the decision. So once the decision is made, we will ask what the outcome was (or we want to have access to the result). We can ask about the decision chosen and the criteria used, if necessary, to convince us that it was the best option. 

Example: When your teenager goes out with friends and they choose where they are going, but you want to know where they will be.

Level 7 | Delegate: I will fully delegate

This is the highest level of delegation. We do not even need to know the chosen option. We will be fine; we are unconcerned about the details. Those details are one less thing to worry about. 

Example: When a child begins to choose their own clothes.

Stolen from: Guiding principles for decision making using delegation poker and boards-EN