Delegation requires process not just trust

While trust between people is crucial, leaders must also build organizational processes for successful delegation, according to new research by MIT Sloan. Reliable employees may still fail at delegated tasks if the underlying process is unreliable.

The study finds that effective delegation depends on two key factors - trust in people based on skills and relationships, and trust in processes based on predictability and consistency. Leaders should gauge both when choosing how to delegate.

Trustworthy people can struggle with delegation if processes are unclear or unreliable. The study advises matching delegation approach to the levels of trust in both people and process. Considering organizational functioning alongside interpersonal trust results in more confident and successful delegation.