When leveraging the efforts of others for your agenda, what key element must you maintain over their work?

When leveraging the efforts of others for your agenda, the key element you must maintain over their work is directional control. Directional control refers to the systematic process of ensuring that the actions, outputs, and outcomes generated by others consistently align with, directly contribute to, and remain subordinate to your specific objectives and desired results. This involves clearly defining the scope of work, setting precise expectations for quality and performance, establishing measurable milestones, and providing continuous guidance to steer efforts towards the intended end. It requires retaining the authority to make critical decisions, approve work stages, and redirect efforts as needed to prevent deviation from the core agenda. For example, if a project manager delegates tasks to team members for a specific project, maintaining directional control means the manager defines the project's overall goals, sets deadlines, and ensures all individual contributions lead directly to the project's successful completion according to the manager's vision. This element guarantees that the delegated work effectively and efficiently serves the principal's ultimate purpose.