The problem it solves
Approval chains are only as fast as their slowest reviewer. The day a partner flies out, a proposal that's ready to send can sit untouched in their queue while the client wonders why they've gone quiet.
Out-of-office routing fixes that at the source. A reviewer marks themselves away and names a delegate; while they're out, any approval that would land on them goes to the delegate instead.
Setting your out-of-office
Open your away settings
From your profile, mark yourself out of office for the dates you'll be away. See your profile.
Name a delegate
Choose a colleague who can stand in for your judgement — ideally someone at a similar level who knows the work.
Set the dates
Give a start and end. Routing switches on and off automatically, so you don't have to remember to turn it back.
Let your team know
A delegate who's expecting the handover acts faster than one who's surprised by it.
What the delegate sees
While you're away, the delegate is notified of approvals that would normally be yours, with a clear marker that they're acting on your behalf. They approve or send back exactly as you would.
- The delegate receives the notification in your place.
- Their decision is recorded as a stand-in for the away reviewer.
- When your dates end, the rung returns to you automatically.
Good practice
- Pick a delegate who can actually carry your call, not just click approve.
- Set the dates before you leave, not from the airport.
- For long absences, tell the delegate which deals are live so nothing surprises them.
- If you're the only reviewer on a rung, a delegate is the difference between sending on time and not at all.
A review that can only happen when one specific person is at their desk isn't a process — it's a single point of failure.