When will you delegate vs own

When the interviewer asks, "When will you delegate vs own," he or she is attempting to assess your leadership skills and how well you understand the balance between taking ownership and delegating tasks to others. The best responses should highlight your ability to take responsibility when needed but also to delegate effectively to make the most out of your team's skills and strengths. Key points to consider are:

1. Situations where you would take ownership: These could be critical tasks, decisions that fall directly under your responsibility, or tasks where you have unique expertise.

2. Situations where you would delegate: These could be tasks that can be done more efficiently by others, activities that provide learning opportunities for your team members, or tasks outside your core skills.

I believe in the concept of 'Right person for the right task.' If I possess the necessary skills and expertise required for a critical task, I would take ownership of it. For instance, strategic decision-making tasks that can affect the direction of our project. However, if there's a task that could provide a solid learning opportunity for someone on my team or falls within their expertise, I would delegate it. I believe delegating such tasks helps in skill development and instills a sense of responsibility in team members.

In my opinion, it depends on the situation. If the task at hand involves strategic decisions or requires my specific expertise, I would take ownership to maintain overall control. This ensures that overall strategic alignment doesn't falter. In contrast, if a task is more operational or can be handled efficiently by others, I would delegate it. For example, routine assignment or tasks where my team members are more skilled allows me not only to focus on my core tasks but also empowers them and builds their skills for future leadership roles."