It is late. Someone brings one more decision, and the leader says three words: “Whatever you think.” Sometimes that is real delegation. Sometimes it is a decision being put off. The team may hear the difference even when the leader does not.

The day starts with a plan. Then comes "quick question." Then another. By four o'clock you have been useful all day and have not led for an hour of it. What if the answers are part of what keeps the questions coming?

You handed the work off weeks ago. So why are you opening the file again at 9:40 at night? Under pressure, some leaders start checking everything. It looks like standards. The research on loaded minds and trust suggests it may be something else.