Every time my leadership team hits a roadblock or a tough decision in their department, they immediately escalate it to me for final approval. How do I force them to resolve these issues at their own level using the Accountability Chart?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When your team escalates every problem, it means you have trained them to treat you as the ultimate bottleneck. This behavior stops you from operating as a true Visionary and keeps your leadership team from owning their seats. To fix this, you must strictly enforce the Accountability Chart.

Every seat on that chart must have clear, documented roles and responsibilities. If a leader brings you a problem that falls squarely in their court, do not solve it for them. Instead, ask them a simple question: What is your recommendation? Force them to present a solution before you even discuss the issue.

If they lack the confidence to make the call, evaluate their GWC. Do they truly understand and want the accountability, and do they have the capacity to deliver? If they do, then you must give them the authority to make mistakes. Let them know that you support their decision-making, even if a call turns out to be wrong. This builds the safety required for them to step up.

Stop answering their emails and Slack messages with solutions. Direct them back to their own department Level 10 Meeting to IDS the issue with their own team.

AI never sits in the room. It works before the Level 10 Meeting to prep the data and after the meeting to capture and track what was decided. The 90 minutes stay human: your leadership team, the scorecard, the issues list, and the IDS conversation.