7 delegation levels — and the Empire uses pretty much only the first one. If your boss only plays 'Tell', you might be in a Sith organization.
Jurgen Appelo's Delegation Poker describes 7 levels of delegation: from Tell (the leader decides alone) to Delegate (the team decides fully autonomously). The goal is not to always delegate — but to consciously choose which level fits which situation.
The Empire has a clear pattern: Palpatine plays Tell. Always. Everywhere. The only exception is when he manipulates — then he disguises Tell as Sell. Levels 3-7 don't exist in the imperial dictionary.
Palpatine's default mode. "I have dissolved the Senate." No discussion, no explanation. Order 66 was pure Tell.
Use only in real emergencies. Communicate transparently why Tell is needed.
Palpatine "sells" Anakin the dark side. "I can show you how to save Padmé." Manipulation disguised as Sell.
Persuade honestly, don't manipulate. The reasons must be genuine.
Practically never happens. Vader asks no one. Tarkin ignores objections: "Fire when ready!" despite Leia's lie about Dantooine.
Gather input and visibly let it shape the decision.
Nonexistent. The Empire knows no consensus decisions. Even the Imperial Council was just a rubber-stamp body.
Equal-footing decision making for important, cross-team topics.
Vader "advises" no one. If an officer acts independently, he is punished. Initiative = suspicion of treason.
The leader gives advice, but the team decides on its own.
Unthinkable. No imperial officer would dare to act on their own and inform the Sith Lord afterwards.
Team decides autonomously and informs leadership transparently.
Real delegation does not exist. Even Grand Moff Tarkin — the most powerful non-Sith — needed Palpatine's permission for everything.
Full autonomy. The team needs no approval.
Average score: 1.9/5 — The Empire shows an extreme delegation deficit. The score distribution is telling: Tell is high (because it's used constantly), while every other level effectively does not exist.
Palpatine's masterstroke — Sell as manipulation: Anakin's seduction is a textbook example of bad Sell. Palpatine doesn't honestly "sell" the dark side — he manipulates: "The Jedi are the ones you should fear." Real Sell requires transparency about the reasons. Palpatine's Sell is actually Tell with better packaging.
The contrast with the Rebel Alliance: Mon Mothma uses the full spectrum: she consults with the council (Consult), agrees with the generals (Agree), and fully delegates tactical decisions to Leia, Ackbar and Han Solo (Delegate). Leia on Endor? Full Delegate — she acts autonomously, without checking back with leadership.
Lesson for real organizations: If you only play Tell and Sell as a leader, you create learned helplessness. Your best people leave — like Finn, like the rebel defectors. Delegation Poker helps you consciously pick the right level instead of reflexively deciding everything yourself.
Inspiriert von Jurgen Appelo — Delegation Poker (Management 3.0)