All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins
Scale Yourself though Delegation, Assistants and Automation with Sam Corcos
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Delegation is essential for increasing capacity and delivering more value in both personal and professional settings.
- Thoroughly vetting candidates and working with specialized agencies can streamline the process of hiring an assistant.
- Delegating non-work-related tasks to an assistant frees up time for more fulfilling activities and personal growth.
- Establishing clear boundaries and guidelines, along with trust and effective communication, are key to utilizing an assistant's services.
- Delegation allows individuals to do more by prioritizing tasks and leveraging tools and technology for efficient task completion.
Deep dives
The Importance of Delegation
Delegation is a crucial skill for leaders and individuals alike, allowing them to increase their capacity and deliver more value. The finite nature of time makes delegation necessary for anyone looking to achieve success. Delegating tasks to others enables individuals to extend their hours of work and focus on high-value activities. Delegation is not limited to leaders or managers, but rather important for anyone seeking to manage their time effectively and accomplish their goals.
Vetting and Hiring an Assistant
When hiring an assistant, it is essential to thoroughly vet candidates to ensure they can follow instructions and be proactive. Working with an agency that specializes in providing qualified assistants can streamline the process and help in matching the right candidate. It is important to establish clear expectations and trust, as assistants may have access to sensitive information. Deciding whether to hire an assistant for personal and work-related tasks or to separate them is a personal choice that depends on individual needs and preferences.
Maximizing Personal and Work Efficiency
Assistants can be valuable in managing personal tasks and freeing up time for more fulfilling activities. Delegating non-work-related responsibilities such as trip planning, household management, and research allows individuals to focus on work and personal growth. Establishing clear boundaries and guidelines is crucial to determine which tasks are appropriate to delegate to a work assistant and which may be separate personal responsibilities. Trust and effective communication are key to effectively utilizing an assistant's services.
Risk Assessment and Access Control
Determining access and entrusting sensitive information to an assistant requires a careful risk assessment. Employing security measures such as separate email addresses, password managers, access control, and limited permissions can help mitigate potential risks. Each individual must evaluate their comfort level and strike a balance between convenience and security. It is essential to establish clear boundaries and criteria regarding access, and seek professional advice when necessary.
Getting Leverage through Delegation
Delegation is a powerful tool that allows individuals to do more and prioritize tasks they wouldn't have had the capacity for. By delegating certain tasks, one can free up time to focus on more important or enjoyable activities. For example, using tools like Loom and voice notes can enhance the onboarding process by enabling asynchronous communication and providing a reference for future instructions. Leveraging technology and AI can further enhance the delegation process, allowing for more efficient task completion. With the right tools and mindset, individuals can unlock their potential and accomplish more.
Optimizing Time and Reducing Meetings
Efficiently managing time and reducing unnecessary meetings is crucial for productivity. Tools like Loom can be used proactively to send video instructions and answer questions, saving time and avoiding the need for synchronous meetings. By batching emails and utilizing tools like Mailman, individuals can resist the urge to constantly check their inbox and experience more focused and uninterrupted work sessions. Leveraging AI and automation can help filter and prioritize emails or streamline repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful work.
Building Connections and Networking
Developing a diverse network and building meaningful connections can bring valuable insights and opportunities. Engaging in conversations with people and learning from their experiences can be energizing and lead to unexpected benefits. By shifting from generic conversations to asking interesting questions and actively listening, one can deepen connections and uncover new perspectives. While it's important to prioritize relationships and stay in touch, leveraging tools like personal CRMs or curated lists can aid in managing and nurturing connections. By prioritizing relationship-building activities and approaching conversations with a genuine curiosity, individuals can expand their network and unlock new opportunities.
Using Group Dinners to Create Diverse and Interesting Social Gatherings
Organizing group dinners with the aim of inviting people who do not know each other can lead to more diverse and interesting gatherings. By starting with a core group of friends, each person invites someone new who is unlikely to be known by others in the group. This creates a dynamic where most attendees are unfamiliar with each other, resulting in unique and eclectic mixtures of people. Such dinner parties offer the opportunity for interaction and connections that would not normally occur, leading to fun and memorable experiences.
Optimizing Communication and Productivity with Notion and Email Shortcuts
Notion is a powerful tool for organizing documentation internally. It provides various features, including page wikis and advanced databases with linking capabilities. Notion's flexibility and functionality extend beyond simple documentation and can be used to streamline work processes. For instance, it allows for automation, such as syncing favorite tweets to a database or posting relevant information to Slack channels. Additionally, Notion can be used for personal life organization, such as creating weekly family priority lists or planning trips. Embracing keyboard shortcuts in email and other applications can significantly enhance productivity. Studies show that learning and using shortcuts can increase productivity by 10-40%, even with occasional email usage. Mastering shortcuts for frequently performed tasks, such as archiving or replying to emails, saves time and improves overall efficiency.
#155: Entrepreneur Sam Corcos shares the benefits of mastering delegation by leveraging virtual assistants (VAs), and automating tasks. They cover the process of assessing the need for a VA, where to hire them, how to delegate tasks, and ways to overcome challenges associated with working with one. They also discuss the different tools used for optimal communication and productivity.
Sam Corcos is the CEO and co-founder of Levels, an a16z-backed startup that shows you how food affects your health using continuous glucose monitors and other biosensors.
Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/sam-corcos-delegation
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Resources Mentioned
Virtual Assistant Agencies: Oceans XYZ | Athena | Shepherd
All the Hacks: 10-Step Guide to Finding, Onboarding, and Empowering Your Assistant
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All the Hacks #98: Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Increase Productivity and Live the Life You Want
Peter Boyce is a People Person
Tools For Optimal Communication & Productivity:
- Communication: Loom | Signal Voice | Whisper Memos
- ChatGPT with Voice
- Notion
- Airtable
- Slack
- Keyboard shortcuts: TextExpander | Alfred | Raycast
- GitHub Copilot
- Email: Superhuman | Mailman HQ
- Zapier
Full Show Notes
(03:29) The Importance & Benefits of Delegation
(07:06) Managing Your Energy: One of the Major Benefits of Delegation
(11:54) Reasons Why Most People Aren't Delegating
(17:15) How to Assess If You Need an Assistant & Find Value
(22:05) Examples of Delegating Tasks
(25:39) How and Where to Hire a VA
(35:47) Working with Assistants in Different Time Zones
(40:07) Hiring a VA for Both Work & Personal Tasks
(48:13) How Much Access Do You Give Your VA
(56:37) Onboarding Assistants
(1:07:23) 80/20 for Optimal Outcome
(1:14:22) Sam's Gratitude Test
(1:20:45) Eigenvector Centrality & Sam's Second Degree Dinners
(1:22:54) Tools for Optimal Communication & Productivity
(1:34:18) Managing & Leveraging Calendars
(1:45:30) Role of AI in Delegation
(1:51:52) Levels & Tracking Your Health Data
(1:56:16) Sam's Alarm Clock Hack
Connect with All the Hacks
All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email
Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn
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