Put it into practice
List decisions likely to arise during absence.
Name an authorised alternate and safe limits.
Rehearse a routine exception and an urgent specialist incident separately.
A case to think through
A deputy can authorise an ordinary schedule adjustment, while a material contract commitment waits for its authorised signatory unless a formal alternate exists.
This is a hypothetical operating example, not a client result.A boundary worth checking
Treating silence as blanket consent can create commitments nobody was authorised to make.
An appropriate escalation can be evidence that the boundary works. Judge the reason, timing and outcome rather than seeking the lowest possible number of questions. Urgent safety, security and specialist incidents retain their established response routes; a general delegation exercise does not replace them.
Your handover working notes
Use these prompts with the person taking ownership. Record the agreement within your existing permissions.
| Prompt | Notes from your case |
|---|---|
| Decision | |
| alternate | |
| permitted action | |
| hold condition | |
| contact route |
Can the team simply wait until I return?
Sometimes. Make the impact and holding action explicit so a delay is an authorised choice rather than accidental paralysis.
Give one decision a clear owner.
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