We have rolled out departmental Level 10 Meetings, but our managers still wait for the leadership team to approve their proposed solutions before they execute them. How do we transition them to a leader-leader model where they own the solution completely?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your managers are running departmental Level 10 Meetings but still seeking your approval before executing solutions, you have not fully delegated authority. You are operating in a leader-follower model, which limits your organization's scalability and prevents you from stepping into the Owner's Box.

To transition your managers to a leader-leader model, you must change how you respond to their escalations. You must stop providing answers and start demanding ownership.

Implement these steps to shift the decision-making authority down to your managers:
- When a manager brings an issue to you or tries to escalate it to the leadership team's list, ask them to present their proposed solution first.
- Use the five levels of leadership to evaluate their competence and clarity on the issue.
- If they have the capability, tell them to execute their solution without waiting for your sign-off.
- Remind them that their departmental Level 10 Meeting™ is their domain. They have the authority to make decisions that impact their team's Rocks and weekly Scorecard.
- If a decision fails, use it as a learning opportunity rather than a reason to pull back authority.

By forcing your managers to bring solutions instead of problems, you build their leadership capabilities and confidence. This delegation of power is essential for running decentralized, AI-powered operations and creating a business that can scale independently of its founders.