The 3 Stages of Task Relevant Maturity: A Content Creation Case Study

In a previous post, we covered Task Relevant Maturity, and how to apply it to delegation and working with your executive assistant. In this article, we show how TRM evolves across 3 stages using a simple example of content creation.

Beginner: Constant guidance

At this point, you're essentially thinking for two people.

Your assistant requires detailed instructions for each task, and you find yourself spending significant time explaining, checking, and sometimes redoing work. This stage can feel frustrating, as if it might be faster to just do everything yourself.

Example:

• You provide a precise outline for each blog post, including main points, subheadings, and key takeaways.
• You specify exact sources to reference and which statistics to include.
• You give detailed writing guidelines, such as tone, style, and word count.
• After your assistant drafts the post, you spend significant time editing, often rewriting large portions.

Intermediate: Structured support

As your assistant's TRM grows, you shift from dictating every detail to providing frameworks and guidelines. You're still closely involved, but you're beginning to see glimmers of independence.

Example:

• You've established a content calendar and basic templates for different types of blog posts (e.g. how-to guides, case studies, industry news analysis).
• Your assistant can now build outlines independently — you review and adjust as needed.
• You have a shared style guide for tone, voice, and formatting consistency.
• You still provide significant input on more complex topics or when addressing sensitive industry issues.

Advanced: Guided autonomy

At this level, your assistant operates with significant independence. Your role shifts to providing high-level direction and occasional course correction.

Example:

• Your assistant manages the content calendar, proposing topics based on industry trends and SEO research.
• They create well-researched posts that require only minor edits from you.
• They analyze content performance metrics and suggest data-driven improvements to your content strategy.
• Your assistant can repurpose content across multiple platforms (e.g. turning a blog post into a series of social media posts or a podcast script).

Most people treat delegation like a light switch – either on or off. But effective delegation is more like a dimmer.

You adjust your involvement based on your assistant's TRM. Too much oversight when TRM is high creates frustration. Too little when TRM is low leads to failure.