Define the outcome and the decision boundaries
Explain what you need, when you need it, and how you will judge the result. Agree where the person can act alone, whom they should consult, and what should bring the decision back to you. A reversible trial may need light guardrails, while a commitment to a customer may require approval.
What it could sound like
‘Choose one supplier for the pilot by Thursday. You can decide within the budget. If they ask for a year-long contract or access to customer data, check with me before replying. On Friday we’ll review your choice and the pilot terms.’ Ask them to play back which decisions they own. Any different interpretation becomes visible straight away.
Review how the decision was made
Ask which criteria they used and what was hardest about the choice. When the work stays within the agreed boundaries, try fewer checkpoints on the next similar task. If a risk surfaced late, clarify which signal should prompt an escalation.