Glossary · Managing remote work

Delegation

Delegation is handing ownership of a task or outcome to another person, along with the context, authority, and resources to complete it. It is different from dumping tasks: good delegation defines the result, explains why it matters, sets checkpoints, and lets the other person decide how to get there.

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What it means in practice

Most founders delegate too little, too late. A simple way to start: track your week, mark every task someone else could do with instructions, and hand off the most repetitive ones first. Those are usually inbox, calendar, data entry, and follow-ups.

Delegation gets easier with each task you document. Over a few months, a dedicated full-time hire can take on whole areas of work, not just individual tasks.

Start with 101 tasks you can delegate, or take the delegation crash course.

  • Standard operating procedure (SOP)

    A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a written, step-by-step description of how a recurring task is done in your business, including the tools, inputs, decisions, and expected result.

  • Virtual assistant (VA)

    A virtual assistant (VA) is a remote professional who handles administrative, operational, or specialist work for a business from another location.

  • Executive assistant (EA)

    An executive assistant (EA) supports one senior leader, managing their calendar, inbox, travel, meetings, and priorities so the leader can focus on decisions only they can make.

  • Onboarding

    Onboarding is the process of bringing a new hire up to speed: setting up accounts and access, explaining the business, training on tools and processes, and agreeing on goals and check-ins.

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