Your to-do list is overflowing, your brain is fried, and somehow you're still the person responsible for ordering office snacks. Spoiler: If you’re doing tasks that others could handle, you’ve got a blocked workflow. Time to grab the metaphorical plunger and get those stuck tasks moving again. This is your permission slip to delegate—with purpose and peace of mind.
The Truth About 'Stuck' Tasks
Stuck tasks are the ones you secretly don’t want to do—but still feel obligated to keep doing. Maybe it's onboarding new team members, or triaging support requests. They linger because delegating feels scarier than just doing them. Why? Blame a mix of uncertainty (how do you even explain this thing?), fear (what if they mess it up?), and past delegation flops (we see you, email chains from 2021). Sound familiar? You’re not alone. But here's the problem: left unchecked, these tasks clog your mental pipeline and drain your time for the work that truly matters.
How to Identify What’s Ready to Delegate
Before you can reassign, you need a sharp eye for what’s actually clogging your capacity. Start with this checklist: - Is someone else fully capable of handling this with the right instructions? - Have you done it multiple times—and could document the steps? - Is it recurring or reactive work that disrupts your focus? - Do you dread it every time it shows up? If you checked one or more boxes, congrats—you’ve got a stuck task that’s ripe for release.
Clear the Drain and Breathe Easier
Delegation isn’t about dumping work. It’s about creating flow—so the right work reaches the right people, at the right time. The first step is seeing stuck tasks for what they are: opportunities to trust your team and free yourself up to lead. More on how to actually delegate (and not just offload) in tomorrow’s lesson. Until then, give your to-do list a side-eye and ask, “Why am I still doing this?” You might be surprised. Catch you next time on Automanium—where smooth systems meet sharp thinkers.
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