Step 1: Reframe Your List
- Rename your to do list to "needs to be done" list. Not everything needs to be done by you. Not everything needs to be done by a human.
- For any item on your list, ask yourself: "Am I the best and cheapest person to get this done?"
Step 2: Use DELEGATE framework to identify potential tasks for delegation
This can be done two ways:
- Make a list of everything on your plate right now and then go through and circle or highlight any item that falls in any of these categories
- Read about each category and brainstorm tasks that you currently hold that could fall into each
Dread - tasks you dislike
- What tasks do you consistently avoid because you find them unpleasant, regardless of skill level or time they will take?
Expertise - tasks outside your core strengths
- What are you currently working on that falls outside your core strengths or expertise?
- Someone with the right skills will likely complete these faster and better than you can
Learning - tasks for team development
- Sometimes you enjoy and are good at something, but delegating it to a team member would support their growth and free you up to take on new challenges or more strategic work
Eighty percent- where others can do most of the work
- Think about whether there is a project on your plate for which someone else could do the initial 80% of the work. For example: maybe they won't be able to make the decision but they can do research on the options and tradeoffs