Hand Off the Work
- Cristina Stensvaag
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
The three-part handoff.
July 7, 2026
Originally published in One More Rep, a weekly newsletter for people managers who want to get better through practice. Subscribe here — it's free.
Week 27. Rep 27. Last week you identified what you're holding that shouldn't be yours. This week you let go of one thing completely.
Read
The Moment
Last week, you created your list of three things that could belong to someone else and who could take each one. You've probably known for a while, but the handoff still hadn't happened.
The Pattern
Delegation attempts fail before they start because the leader hands off the task but keeps the ownership. They check in daily. They rework the output. They add themselves back into every decision point. The direct report is technically doing the work but not owning it.
Why This Matters
A clean handoff has three parts: setting clear expectations about what the work is, what a good outcome looks like, and what authority the person has to make decisions along the way. Without the third part, you haven't delegated anything. You've created a dependency that runs through you.
Rep
This Week's Practice
Take one item from last week's inventory. The one with the clearest owner. Hand it off this week using a three-part handoff: what the work is, what done looks like, and what decisions they can make without you.
And don't take it back.
Your Rep
Deliver one complete handoff conversation before Thursday. Write out all three parts before the conversation so you know what you're giving to your direct.
What to Notice
Success looks like:
You named a specific outcome, not just a task
They left the conversation knowing what decisions are theirs to make
You didn't add yourself back in before the end of the week
Resistance looks like:
Picking the lowest-stakes item on the list because it feels safer
Handing it off and then following up the same day
Being unclear about what authority you're actually giving them
It's working when:
They make a decision without asking you and it's fine
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Describing the task instead of the outcome. "Handle the weekly status report" leaves too much open. "Own the weekly status report. Your job is to make sure the team has what they need to fill it out and that it goes out by Friday" gives them something concrete.
Mistake #2: Staying available for every question. If they can interrupt you whenever something comes up, you're still the decision-maker. Define the check-in points before the conversation ends so they know when to come to you and when to keep moving.
Reflect
What did you almost take back this week — and what stopped you?
What does handing this off make possible for you?
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Cristina Stensvaag is co-founder of LeaderReps and creator of One More Rep, a weekly practice-based leadership newsletter for people managers.