Delegation has levels (and mismatching them creates pain)

When someone says “delegate,” they might mean three different things:

1. Do exactly this (recipe execution)
2. Achieve this outcome (you propose a plan; I review risk/constraints)
3. Own this area (direction + boundaries; you drive)

Most delegation pain is a mismatch:

• expecting level 3 behavior with level 1 authority
• or delegating level 3 responsibility with level 1 clarity