Check the approved delegation before acting

Follow the current approved delegation for your role and location. If your authority is unclear, pause the decision and consult the next-level manager through your organization's designated route.

Keep decisions moving within your authority

  1. 1

    Check scope and end point

    Read the current written delegation. Confirm what decisions it covers, its limits, and when the delegated authority ends.

  2. 2

    List open decisions

    Record what decision is needed, when it is needed, what information is outstanding, and who owns the next step.

  3. 3

    Identify relevant support

    Note the next-level manager and any specialist owner relevant to the decision. Consult them when the delegation requires it or the situation is unclear.

  4. 4

    Keep a concise decision record

    Track decisions made within the approved authority, the relevant rationale, open items, and agreed next steps using the organization's approved record.

  5. 5

    Hand responsibility back

    At the agreed end of cover, summarize decisions, open work, owners, and deadlines for the returning manager. Confirm any unresolved authority questions.

Scope of this guidance

This fictional Northstar example concerns temporary cover for delegated management decisions. It is not a routine shift handoff and does not monitor an absence or indicate that someone is ready to act. The current approved delegation—not this page—sets the authority you may exercise.

Before publication, provide the authoritative delegation source and the real escalation route. No working link or contact is supplied here because those destinations have not been provided.

If authority is not clear, pause

Do not assume a decision is covered because another manager is away.

Check the current approved delegation for your role and location.

Ask the next-level manager or designated authority for clarification before acting.

Record the open decision and next owner in the approved work record.