I have stepped back into the Owner's Box, but my leadership team still contacts me for approvals on minor expenditures and operational decisions. How do I train them to operate as the ultimate decision-makers?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your leadership team is still coming to you for minor approvals, you have not actually left the field; you are just coaching from the sidelines. This habit persists because you have built a culture of dependency, and your team is afraid of making a mistake that might upset you. To cure this, you must change your behavior first. When a leader asks you for an approval, do not give them the answer. Instead, ask them what they would do if they owned the company. Force them to present a solution, not a question. Once they provide a reasonable answer, agree with it and tell them to execute. Over time, this builds their decision-making muscle. Next, clarify the boundaries of authority using your Accountability Chart. Define exactly what decisions each seat has the authority to make without your input. For example, give them a clear budget limit for expenditures and full authority over hiring within their departments. Document these rules in your operating Charter. Remember that true delegation requires you to accept that they will make mistakes. When a mistake happens, do not rescue them or yell at them. Use it as a teaching moment during your next alignment meeting. Show them how to analyze the mistake using data from your Scorecard. Once your team realizes they have the authority to run the business, they will stop treating you as a bottleneck.