A Handoff Should Transfer Judgment, Not Just Tasks

A useful lesson about succession planning: a handoff that transfers steps but not decision boundaries can leave the next person dependent on the original owner.

Imagine someone takes over a recurring responsibility. They need more than a checklist: what outcome matters, which choices they can make independently, and what kind of change should trigger a conversation. Include the reasoning behind one important trade-off, too; otherwise, the first unfamiliar situation can send the whole decision back uphill.

A practical test: could the new owner handle a reasonable exception without guessing—or needing permission for every adjustment? If not, clarify the boundary and agree when to review it. The aim isn’t to preserve someone else’s method; it’s to make responsible judgment easier to carry forward.