We have established our core leadership team, but we are struggling to get them to run their departments independently. They still escalate every minor decision to me. How do we break this dependence and force them to take true ownership?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your leadership team is constantly escalating minor decisions to you, you have not actually delegated authority. They are treating you as a safety net, which prevents them from growing and keeps you trapped in daily operations. To break this cycle of dependence, you must enforce the Delegate and Elevate™ tool. Start by reviewing the Accountability Chart with your team. Remind each leader of the five major roles they are accountable for, and clarify that they have the authority to make decisions within those boundaries. When a leader comes to you with an operational problem, do not solve it for them. Instead, ask them what they recommend. Force them to bring you solutions, not just problems. If their recommendation is reasonable, approve it and tell them to run with it. If they make a mistake, use it as a coaching opportunity during your Level 10 Meeting™ rather than taking the power back. You must allow your leaders to fail occasionally so they can build the confidence to lead. By stepping back and letting them run their departments, you prove that the business can operate successfully without your daily involvement, which is the ultimate goal of exit readiness.