People in our studies thought being asked to make a decision was less fair than being asked for advice… this sense of unfairness made them view delegators more negatively.
Hayley Blunden and Mary Steffel
While delegation may be critical… knowing when and when not to delegate may be even more important.
Takeaways of Note:
3 important considerations for delegating decisions without seeming unfair…
- Delegate choices with positive outcomes — delegating a positive decision can seem fairer than delegating a negative one.
- Give employees responsibility for decisions that fall within their roles — contextualize why it may make sense to transfer decision responsibility.
- Limit the potential consequences to colleagues— people may be more willing to take responsibility when only they may be affected by potential consequences.