If they had other skills and interests, but were duds in mechanics, I beefed up the maintenance department. The same line of reasoning applies to identifying skills in a team or a family. Give people and family members responsibility up to the measure of their capabilities, but give them the authority to go along with it. It is wise to give employees and family members as much responsibility as they can handle, but without overdoing it. Most people like responsibility.
Individuals like to perform and, of course, an organization benefits if they do.
However, you have to be sensitive not to overload them. Let them stretch, but only to the level of comfort and not to the breaking point. With regard to having authority accompany responsibility, there is nothing which makes people draw back more quickly than having their decisions reversed. If a person has been given responsibility, and in his or her best judgment does something which turns out to be a mistake, correct it for the future. A reprimand is not in order.