Earlier business notes
Why a handover keeps coming back to you
A practical way to clarify responsibility, decision limits and review when delegated work keeps returning to the founder.
By Rajiv Sankarlall · Updated
You ask someone to take over a task, but they keep bringing it back. It is tempting to conclude they are not ready. Before doing that, check what you actually handed over: the steps, the result or the authority to make the decisions involved.
A person may know what you want and still lack access, context or permission to finish it. They may also be unsure whether you will accept work done differently from the way you would do it yourself.
Revisit one recent request
Pick a real task that returned to you. Ask where the person got stuck and what they needed. Avoid answering immediately. You are trying to understand the missing piece, not demonstrate how quickly you can solve it.
Then agree what the finished work should accomplish. Give an example if that helps. Be clear about deadlines and the constraints that matter, including customer promises or information the person must check before acting.
Agree which choices belong to them
State what they can decide themselves, what they should discuss with you and what would require someone else's involvement. Choose limits relevant to the task rather than a vague instruction to use common sense.
For the first few attempts, agree when you will review the work. A planned conversation can be more useful than repeated interruptions, provided there is still a route for a genuinely time-sensitive issue. Change the arrangement as the person gains context.
Look at your response too
If you redo their work without explanation, they may learn that asking you is safer than taking responsibility. If you punish an error inside the limits you agreed, those limits stop meaning much. Explain what needs to change and whether the problem was the decision, the information or the agreement itself.
You may discover you need to teach a skill or choose a different owner. You may also notice that letting someone help brings up fear about quality, control or your own role. Those are questions worth addressing honestly.
Delegation can change how work is shared. It is not a guaranteed cure for burnout. If you are still overwhelmed when the workload eases, explore the broader question of what burnout has changed in your life.