Delegation Poker
Delegation Poker is a card-based game designed to facilitate conversations around decision-making authority within a team, clarifying who is responsible for what and to what degree. It promotes controlled self-organization and shared understanding of delegation levels.
Use this method when a team needs to define or redefine roles and responsibilities, particularly regarding decision-making authority, or when there's ambiguity about delegation levels.
Solves: Unclear roles and responsibilities, micromanagement, lack of empowerment, inconsistent decision-making processes.
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Step 1: Introduce the concept of Delegation Poker and the seven levels of delegation (Tell, Sell, Consult, Agree, Advise, Inquire, Delegate). (5 minutes)
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Step 2: Present a specific situation or decision area to the team. (2 minutes)
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Step 3: Each team member privately selects a card representing their preferred delegation level for that situation. (3 minutes)
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Step 4: Team members reveal their cards simultaneously. (1 minute)
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Step 5: Facilitate a discussion, focusing on the highest and lowest cards, to understand the reasoning behind each choice. (15-30 minutes)
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Step 6: Reach a consensus on the appropriate delegation level and update the Delegation Board. (5-10 minutes)
- Encourage open and honest communication during the discussion phase.
- Ensure that all team members understand the seven levels of delegation.
- Focus on understanding the reasoning behind each choice, rather than simply reaching a consensus.
- Adjust the seven levels of delegation to better suit the team's context.
- Use sticky notes instead of cards.
- Award points based on the card values and track scores over time.