I’ve always been interested in making the most of our limited time as humans. I was first turned on to the idea of delegation (leveraging one’s time by assigning tasks to others) in college when I ran a side hustle on eBay. My friend and I sold vintage jewelry, tchotchkes, and quirky thrift store finds, but we had limited time and skill sets. So, to grow the business, I hired remote workers I found on Elance and job boards in the Philippines. That’s when I realized that even though my time may be finite, I can maximize my impact by leveraging others’ time and skillsets.
That obsession proved so powerful that I left school my senior year, moved to San Francisco, and started my first ‘real’ company, Zirtual.com, which focused on harnessing the power of others to get more done with less stress while focusing on what the delegator does best. The theme continued when we started Avra, which helps businesses streamline HR, Talent, and operations so their teams can shine where it matters most.
Now, as I gear up for my next venture, I’m rethinking the entire concept of delegation as we’re living in an AI-fueled world where tech is more accessible than ever. Delegation isn’t just about handing tasks to people anymore; it’s about eliminating inefficiencies, automating what we can, and saving human effort for the most meaningful work.
My personal approach to leverage my time now looks like this:
- Eliminate: Start by asking, “Does this task even need to exist?” Cut out anything unnecessary.
- Automate: If the task stays, check if technology can handle it. From AI-powered email sorting to automated scheduling, there’s no shortage of tools to help. Here are three examples:
- Voice-to-Text Workflow: Use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe meetings and interviews in real time, creating accurate text records that are easy to search and organize.
- Data Analysis: Platforms like MonkeyLearn or DataRobot can automatically analyze large datasets, providing actionable insights without needing a dedicated data analyst.
- Social Media Monitoring: Tools such as Brandwatch or Hootsuite Insights can track brand mentions, sentiment, and trending topics across platforms, helping businesses respond quickly and strategically.
- Delegate: Only after eliminating and automating should you pass the task to a person. Respect their time and talents by giving them work that truly requires a human touch. Here are three examples:
- Creative Problem-Solving: Humans are best at handling tasks that require innovative thinking, like brainstorming a new marketing campaign or developing a unique product design.
- Relationship Building: Whether it’s managing client relationships or mentoring team members, these roles require emotional intelligence and personal connection.
- Complex Decision-Making: When a situation involves multiple variables, nuanced trade-offs, or ethical considerations, a human’s judgment and experience are indispensable.
With this approach, we can honor people’s time and focus their energy where it counts. Tech should be our first go-to for delegation—the tireless assistant that handles the grunt work. Humans bring the creativity, strategy, and empathy that machines can’t replicate.
The potential here is huge. Imagine the possibilities when people are freed from mundane tasks and can channel their full talents into high-impact projects. That’s my vision for 2025: to push this concept even further, encouraging my team and myself to delegate to tech first and save human energy for the work that truly matters. Let’s embrace this shift and see just how far we can go.