As a leader, your time is your most valuable asset. Yet, many of us get bogged down by $20 tasks—low-impact activities that drain energy and divert focus from $100 tasks, the high-value work that drives significant results. I’ve learned through experience that delegation isn’t just a skill—it’s a strategy for success.
Here are five concrete examples of $20 tasks you should delegate to free up time for $100 opportunities, with external resources to help you implement these strategies in 2025.
1. Delegate Data Entry to Focus on Strategic Planning
$20 Task: Manually entering data into spreadsheets, such as customer feedback or sales figures, can take hours and is prone to errors.
$100 Task: Use that time to develop a strategic plan for growing your business, identifying new markets or partnerships.
I once delegated data entry to an assistant, freeing up 10 hours a week. That time allowed me to secure a key partnership, boosting our growth.
How to Delegate: Hire a virtual assistant through Upwork or train a team member using Google Sheets’ data entry features. Enhance planning with How to Develop Strategic Thinking Skills as a Leader in 2025.
2. Delegate Email Management to Focus on Stakeholder Engagement
$20 Task: Sorting and responding to routine emails, like scheduling confirmations, can consume your mornings.
$100 Task: Build relationships with key stakeholders, such as clients or investors, to secure support for your goals.
I used to spend hours daily on emails until I delegated them to a coordinator. That shift let me meet with an investor who backed our next big project.
How to Delegate: Use Gmail’s filters to organize emails or hire an assistant via Fiverr. Strengthen relationships with How to Build Trust: 5 Practical Steps for New Leaders.
3. Delegate Social Media Updates to Focus on Product Innovation
$20 Task: Posting daily updates on social media platforms, like promotional content, can be time-intensive and repetitive.
$100 Task: Innovate by designing new products or improving existing ones to better meet customer needs.
Delegating social media to a junior team member allowed me to focus on a product redesign, doubling our customer satisfaction rates.
How to Delegate: Use Buffer to schedule posts or assign a marketing assistant. Spark innovation with Vision in Action: How to Translate Big Ideas into Decisions.
4. Delegate Meeting Scheduling to Focus on Team Development
$20 Task: Coordinating calendars and scheduling meetings with multiple stakeholders can be a logistical nightmare.
$100 Task: Invest in your team’s growth by mentoring them or conducting skill-building workshops.
I delegated scheduling to an assistant, which gave me time to mentor my team, improving their performance on a major initiative.
How to Delegate: Use Calendly to automate scheduling or assign a team member for logistics. Boost team growth with Lead with Integrity: 5 Ways to Inspire Teams.
5. Delegate Report Formatting to Focus on Performance Analysis
$20 Task: Formatting reports, such as adjusting fonts and charts for a presentation, is tedious and low-impact.
$100 Task: Analyze performance data to measure success and identify areas for improvement, ensuring long-term growth.
I handed off report formatting to a junior staff member, freeing me to analyze data that led to a 30% increase in efficiency.
How to Delegate: Outsource to a freelancer on Freelancer or use templates from Canva. Enhance analysis skills with Lifelong Learning: How Top Leaders Stay Ahead of the Curve.
Conclusion
Delegating $20 tasks like data entry, email management, social media updates, meeting scheduling, and report formatting allows you to focus on $100 tasks—strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, product innovation, team development, and performance analysis. In 2025, mastering this balance can elevate your leadership and impact across any industry. Start small by delegating one task today using these external tools and watch your productivity soar.
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