Delegation Poker

This template helps teams and leaders align on who makes which decisions and how much autonomy exists across key areas. Based on the 7 levels of delegation, each participant selects their preferred level for a given decision, then discusses and agrees on a shared approach. Great for building trust, reducing friction, and empowering individuals with clear expectations.

Use it in leadership teams, cross-functional groups, or team setup sessions to create a healthy balance between autonomy and alignment.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Setup

Create the Board Layout

Start with a clean board and create 3 key sections:

Section 1: Instructions

Include a short intro so they can self-orient

Title: “Delegation Poker – Clarifying Decision Ownership”

Brief Description:

Each player selects a level of delegation (1–7) for each decision area. We reveal our choices, discuss differences, and agree on a level of delegation together.

Add the 7 levels in a vertical column for reference, using color-coded cards or sticky notes.

Section 2: Decision Areas

Create a table or grid. Each row is a decision area (e.g., “Hiring”, “Sprint goals”, “Feature prioritization”), and each column is for a person’s card selections.

Tip: If you’re only discussing a few decision areas, you can do one decision per row, spaced out, and cluster the cards nearby for each person.

Section 3: Delegation Cards

Create a set of delegation cards (1 to 7) in colored sticky notes or shapes. Duplicate them for each participant:

Color-code by person (or add initials).

Optional: Add a short label (e.g., 1 = Tell, 7 = Delegate).

You could even group the cards visually under each person’s name so they just drag and drop for each decision.

🧠 Tips for Running the Session

Warm up with a less contentious decision to get into the flow.

Use “Dot voting” or emoji reactions if someone’s not comfortable speaking up immediately.

Timebox each discussion (~5–8 min per decision) to keep energy up.

Keep the final agreed level visible – you can use a ⭐️ or different color to mark consensus.

Check out my template on Miroverse here or download the instructions and build your own.

https://miro.com/miroverse/delegation-poker-kvl55uajfmdufmld