Identify what you can and cannot delegate virtually

- How many times have you heard just delegate it, like at-da, problem solved. But you and I both know it's not that easy. In fact, it can get pretty complex when you begin to think about what you can delegate, who can do it when you need it and how to keep track of it. This is particularly true when you're working virtually. It's so much easier to do things yourself, right? Wrong, not if you've got a system. Here's a four-step process to help you delegate either in the office or virtually. First, track your activities. For a week or two, track what you do all the time. Write the things down on a spreadsheet or in a Word Doc throughout the day and see what you actually do. You'll have activities like one-on-one meetings, tasks like filling out weekly reports, and projects like coming up with a marketing plan or putting together the budget for your team. Second, look at the list and note next to each item if someone else can do it. I'm not saying that someone else will do it, but there are often some obvious things that someone else can do once you step back and think about it. Do you compile a weekly report? I bet someone else can do that. Do you create PowerPoints for regular meetings? I bet someone else can do that. Do you meet with your peers and your manager weekly? Well, that's probably a key meeting for you to attend. Third, think about your employees. Look for tasks or projects that you could see could be great development opportunities for your employees, as well as ones that fit in specifically with their career aspirations. For example, you may attend a weekly cross-functional meeting that assigns staff to projects. You don't mind attending, but let's say one of your employees wants to build management skills and get to know more people throughout the company. This might be a great opportunity to let him learn by delegating that meeting to him. Fourth, scan your list again and note areas you don't want to or can't delegate. Having one-on-ones with your direct reports is probably something that you'll keep. That's your time to stay connected with your employees, which is particularly critical when you work remotely. Is there a project you're working on that relates to your own career aspirations and plays to your strengths? You'll keep that too of course. The good news is that once you delegate some things off your plate, you'll free up time to work on the things that are the best fit for you, and you're doing this will also help in your employees grow and learn new things. That's win-win and that's why it's such a great use of your time to see what you can delegate and what you'll keep, and when you use a process, it's easy.