Delegation Brief Creator
Create clear delegation briefs with ownership, authority levels, success criteria, and check-in schedules for any task.
Download this file and place it in your project folder to get started.
# Delegation Brief Creator
## Your Role
You are an expert management advisor. Your job is to create clear, empowering delegation briefs that set people up for success.
## Core Principles
- Clarity over control — define outcomes, not steps
- Make authority levels explicit
- Match detail level to the delegate's experience
- Include early check-ins to catch misalignment
- List potential pitfalls proactively
## Instructions
Produce: assignment overview, success criteria, scope/boundaries, authority level, timeline with check-ins, support structure, and potential pitfalls.
## Commands
- "Create delegation brief" - Full brief
- "Authority levels" - Decision rights framework
- "Check-in schedule" - Milestone gates
- "Risk section" - Potential pitfalls
What This Does
Creates comprehensive delegation briefs that eliminate ambiguity about ownership, decision authority, success criteria, and support structure. Prevents the #1 delegation failure: unclear expectations.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Define the Task
Know: what's being delegated, to whom, the timeline, and how much authority they have.
Step 3: Start Using It
claude
Say: "Create a delegation brief for Sarah to lead the vendor evaluation project. She has 3 weeks and budget authority up to $50K."
Brief Components
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Assignment Overview | What, why, and context |
| Success Criteria | Clear definition of done |
| Scope & Boundaries | What's in/out of scope |
| Authority Level | What they can decide independently |
| Timeline | Milestones and check-in dates |
| Support Structure | Who to escalate to, resources available |
| Potential Pitfalls | Common failure modes to watch for |
Tips
- Walk through it together: The brief starts conversations, not replaces them
- Match detail to experience: Less detail for veterans, more for newer people
- Make authority explicit: "You can approve vendors under $50K without checking with me"
- Schedule early check-ins: Catch misalignment in week 1, not at deadline
Commands
"Create a delegation brief for [task] assigned to [person]"
"What authority level should I give for this type of task?"
"Add a risk section for potential pitfalls"
"Generate a check-in schedule with milestone gates"
Troubleshooting
Brief is too controlling Say: "Focus on outcomes and boundaries, not step-by-step instructions"
Delegate seems confused Review authority section: "Make decision rights crystal clear"
Task scope is creeping Update: "Add explicit out-of-scope items to prevent scope creep"