Delegation
Choosing the First Work to Hand Off
A simple sorting method for deciding which administrative and operating tasks belong in a remote support role.
7 min read · Published 2026-07-07
Look for repeatable drag
Good first handoffs happen often, follow a recognizable pattern, and cost attention when delayed. They should be important enough to matter but bounded enough to teach.
Sort by risk and clarity
Place each task on two axes: how clear is the expected output, and what happens if it goes wrong? Begin with high-clarity, reversible work.
Keep irreversible decisions with an owner
Final payments, sensitive negotiations, legal commitments, account-security changes, and strategic customer promises should remain with authorized people unless a carefully governed process says otherwise.
Expand ownership in stages
A useful progression is observe, prepare, execute with approval, then own within agreed limits. Move forward when the work and judgment are consistently understood.
Questions
Related FAQ
Avoid unclear work with high consequences, broad access, or irreversible authority until the person has context and you have appropriate controls.