Decision Rights: The Secret to Effective Leadership Delegation

In a previous blog, I said delegation fails because we hand off tasks but not decisions. And I promised I’d show you the one-page contract that fixes it.

So here it is.

Remember the story? An owner gave her director a big project. The goal was clear. The deadline was clear. But every decision? Questioned. Redone. Demanded back.

The director stopped directing. Not because she didn’t care. But because she realized the truth: the owner was still running the project.

Here’s the hidden gem: Delegation is not about getting work off your plate. It’s about clarity of authority.

That’s what the Decision Rights Contract creates. And it only takes five lines:

• Purpose – What outcome are we chasing?

• Scope – Which decisions are theirs? Which aren’t?

• Authority – Do they decide, inform, or recommend?

• Guardrails – Budget, KPIs, legal/brand limits.

• Cadence – How often you’ll review and when to escalate.

That’s it.

One page that says: “This is yours. Here’s how far you can run.” Now imagine if that director had one of these—and the owner actually followed it.

The reflection is simple: What project on your desk right now needs a one-page contract like this?

Next week, I’ll show you the two ways owners sabotage this contract… often without even realizing it.