Put it into practice
Ask what decision is required and what the manager recommends.
Check whether the current agreement permits that choice.
Agree the missing input without taking over the entire task.
A case to think through
Instead of rewriting a customer's response, the founder clarifies the permitted remedy and asks the service lead to complete the response and record the outcome.
This is a hypothetical operating example, not a client result.A boundary worth checking
Responding 'just handle it' when the manager lacks actual permission creates frustration rather than autonomy.
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 |
|---|---|
| Question brought back | |
| missing permission | |
| manager's next action | |
| review |
Should I refuse to answer questions?
No. Distinguish support from taking ownership back, and correct genuine gaps in the agreement.
Give one decision a clear owner.
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