2 Pillars of Delegation: Intuition and Communication

Learn how the CLEAR method can improve your delegation process and get you better results when working with an executive assistant.

For the widely ambitious, there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. But even the most successful leaders struggle with effective delegation.

Delegation is an art, but it can also be a science. Christopher Ho, Athena’s Chief Revenue Officer, dives into the secrets of effective delegation when working with an executive assistant.

Delegation Intuition and Communication

Take your delegation from good to great, focus on two things:

Intuition

Stop thinking about how you solve a problem and start identifying who can best solve it. Whether it’s your executive assistant or someone else, delegate it off your to-do list so you can focus on higher-leverage priorities.

Communication

The key to successful delegation is knowing how to ask for help and communicating clearly.

CLEAR Delegation Framework

Athena assistants use the CLEAR framework to turn delegation into a straightforward process. When delegating, provide your executive assistant with the following to get the best results:

  • Context: Define the task and its purpose. If your assistant understands the "why," you’ll get better results.
  • Limits: Set clear boundaries (financial, time-bound, budget, etc.) so your assistant can be proactive without needing constant guidance.
  • Expectations: Clearly define your desired outcome.
  • Accountability: Establish a feedback loop to track progress and ensure the task is completed.
  • Review: Schedule regular check-ins to iterate on processes and make them better.

Instead of a vague request like "Can you book me a flight to L.A.?", it becomes a crystal C.L.E.A.R example of structured delegation:

Don't Do

“I need to go to L.A.”

 Once your preferences are documented, you won’t have to repeat this process. This will free up your time. When you need to travel, just send a voice note to your EA with:

  • Context: “I need to go to L.A. on February 13 for a two-day offsite.”
  • Limits: “Spend $2,000 or less round trip.”
  • Expectation: “Send me flight options by 4 pm today, and prioritize before planning date night.”
  • Accountability: “Once I approve the flights, you can book.”
  • Review: “Thanks for the options. Please book #1. Business class is too expensive this time, so I’ll fly economy. Next time, source more from my preferred loyalty program, Star Alliance.”

See the CLEAR Framework in action and learn more about using it when delegating to your executive assistant.

Ditch Your Delegation Limits and Be Proactive

Ditch the belief that your executive assistant won’t do things as well as you. No doubt you might be better and faster. But getting back 100% of your time and energy is worth the trade. Use your valuable time to focus on higher-value activities.

Find Your Delegation Level

Delegation is how you achieve more. By following Chris Ho's insights and leveraging the support of an elite executive assistant, you can unlock time abundance.

Take the first step and find your delegation level.

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