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Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
3 Lessons AI Agents Can Teach You About Delegation
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash If you're not used to doing it, delegating can be hard. As a bootstrapped founder, I was accustomed to doing everything myself. In many ways, this was a good thing—being a one-man Swiss Army Knife was an effective way to learn a ton of different skills that would eventually help grow my business. On the other hand, I was exhausted. It was a huge relief when I finally hired my first employees, but it was also harder than I thought it would be to relinquish control of the areas of my business I'd grown used to navigating alone. There was a learning curve around which tasks to hand off completely, where I should delegate but oversee, and what I should continue to do myself. Plenty of others share this struggle. As the businessman and philanthropist Eli Broad put it, 'The inability to delegate tasks is one of the biggest problems I see with managers at all levels.' Research bears this out, with data from London Business School revealing that a mere 30 percent of business leaders delegate effectively. In contrast to overthinking founders, AI agents excel at task management—it's kind of their whole thing. Here are three ways founders can emulate the delegation strategies used by AI. Break It Down One of the challenges of delegation is figuring out what, exactly, you're delegating. Say you instruct a marketing associate to handle an upcoming product launch campaign. The ambiguity of the request is bound to cause problems: should the campaign focus on social media ads, or influencer outreach? What are the KPIs? What is the goal of the messaging? Agents don't paint in such broad strokes. Instead, they work backwards from the objective they've been given, planning tasks around the final outcome to be achieved. In order to do this, they break down the goal at hand into several smaller, actionable tasks and perform them based on specific conditions. Leaders can emulate this structured approach to delegation by deconstructing projects into hyper-specific tasks before assigning them. Of course, AI can help you do this part, too—tools like Trello and Asana can even suggest task assignments based on team member availability, workload, and expertise. Urgency Versus Impact Founders making the transition into leaders will likely run into a common problem: How do you figure out what to delegate, versus what to continue to do yourself? As Jesse Sostrin writes in Harvard Business Review, the shift from 'doing' to 'leading' can be a tough one: 'Your involvement is a mix of the opportunities, mandates, and choices you make regarding the work you do,' he says. 'How ancillary or essential you are to the success of that portfolio depends on how decisively and wisely you activate those around you.' One of the remarkable features of agentic AI is its ability to reason, which it achieves by gathering and analyzing huge amounts of data. This capability allows agents to assess the urgency and importance of tasks in real-time, adapting to changing circumstances to maintain efficiency. For instance, AI agents can plan workflows, utilize tools, and make informed decisions to accomplish complex tasks, thereby optimizing their actions based on task priority In addition to using apps like to help you prioritize automatically, you can also take a page from agentic AI's book when it comes to systematically assigning urgency to a given task. I personally love the Eisenhower Matrix, which divides tasks into one of four quadrants: Urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, neither urgent nor important. The urgent and important items are what you should do yourself. The urgent and unimportant ones are what you delegate. Embrace 'Good Enough' AI agents are incredibly efficient at what they do—and the results are not always perfect. That's why they're considered complementary to their human counterparts, rather than replacements. Take one of the tasks for which agents are especially well-suited: drafting emails. Agents are capable of pulling past message content and previous interactions to create personalized, human-sounding drafts, freeing you up from the tedium of doing it yourself. This is especially useful when it comes to messages that, while important, tend to be repetitive to write, like customer service responses. Still, leaders with perfectionist tendencies often have a hard time accepting 'good enough,' even in areas where it's not absolutely crucial, or even important. This is a damaging habit: according to research from the Hardin Group and the Social Research Lab, 86 percent of respondents believe perfectionist expectations impact their work, and 68 percent believe perfectionism leads to burnout. Instead of spending valuable time crafting each individual message, entrepreneurs can rely on AI agents to handle the heavy lifting, allowing them to focus on higher-level strategic tasks. While the drafts may not be winning any Pulitzers, they're often 80 percent of the way there—requiring only minor edits before hitting send. This aligns with another one of my favorite productivity hacks, the 80/20 rule, which holds that 80 percent of desired results come from just 20 percent of the effort. The key is recognizing when 'good enough' truly is good enough. AI-generated emails might occasionally miss subtle emotional cues or industry-specific jargon, but in many cases, the time saved far outweighs the need for perfection. Plus, the technology is continually improving, learning from corrections and user preferences to get closer to the mark over time. Delegating effectively isn't about giving up control; it's about optimizing your time. By taking a page from the agent playbook, leaders can free themselves from micromanagement, scale faster, and focus on what truly drives their business forward.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
How to Build a Team to Work on Social Media—Step-by-Step Guide
In today's digital world, social media isn't just a platform—it's a business battleground. From growing your brand presence to generating leads and building community, everything depends on how strong your social media game is. And let's be honest—you can't do it all alone. So, how do you build a solid team to manage your social media? Let's walk you through it step-by-step. 📌 Table of Contents Why Do You Need a Social Media Team? Step 1: Define Your Social Media Goals Step 2: Identify Key Roles Step 3: Hire the Right People Step 4: Set Tools & Workflow Step 5: Build Team Communication Step 6: Measure Performance Final Thoughts ✅ Why Do You Need a Social Media Team? If you're serious about scaling your online presence, a one-person army won't cut it. A social media team brings in diverse skills—design, writing, analytics, and strategy—all working in harmony. Benefits: Consistent posting & branding Quicker response to trends & messages Better campaign planning Professional growth & fresh ideas 🪜 Step 1: Define Your Social Media Goals Before hiring anyone, ask yourself: Do I want brand awareness? More engagement? Lead generation? Customer service? These goals will define what kind of team you need. 🎯 Pro Tip: Don't chase every goal. Focus on 1-2 key objectives to start with. 🧩 Step 2: Identify Key Roles in Your Social Media Team Here are the essential team members you might need: Role Responsibility Social Media Manager Overall strategy, posting schedule, monitoring trends Content Creator Writing posts, captions, scripts Graphic Designer Creating visually appealing posts, reels, stories Video Editor Shorts, Reels, YouTube, behind-the-scenes Community Manager Engaging with followers, replying to comments Analyst Tracking performance, suggesting improvements 👥 You can start with 2-3 multi-skilled people and grow over time. 🔍 Step 3: Hire the Right People You can build your team using: Freelancers (from platforms like Upwork and Fiverr) Interns (great for testing and low-cost help) In-house full-time team (ideal for long-term branding) What to look for: Passion for social media Good communication skills Understanding of your brand voice Willingness to learn 🤝 Tip: Start with a small trial project before fully onboarding. ⚙️ Step 4: Set Tools & Workflow To manage your team efficiently, use the right tools: Content Calendar: Trello, Notion, Google Sheets Trello, Notion, Google Sheets Graphic Design: Canva, Adobe Express Canva, Adobe Express Social Scheduling: Buffer, Later, Meta Business Suite Buffer, Later, Meta Business Suite Team Communication: Slack, WhatsApp Groups Slack, WhatsApp Groups Analytics: Instagram Insights, Meta Creator Studio 🗣 Step 5: Build Team Communication Even the best team fails without communication. Hold weekly meetings (online or offline) Share feedback regularly Encourage creative brainstorming 💡 Use voice notes, Loom videos, or quick check-in calls to keep it human and engaging. 📊 Step 6: Measure Performance & Improve Tracking performance helps you know what's working and what's not. Key Metrics to Watch: Follower growth Engagement rate Reach & impressions Click-through rates Conversion from posts 🔁 Feedback Loop: Use these insights to improve your content strategy. 🔚 Final Thoughts: Start Small, Think Big You don't need a massive team to start. Just bring in people who understand your vision, share your energy, and believe in digital growth. Over time, your dream team will help your brand shine online. ✅ Want Help Building Your Digital Team? 📩 Get in touch with to hire interns, content creators, and social media managers for your project. Let's grow together! ✍️ Written by: Salman Ahmad 📌 Founder @ | Blogger | Digital Enthusiast TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Is Fortnite down? Server downtime schedule and early update 36.20 patch notes
The latest Fortnite update is set to arrive soon, bringing with it a host of new content and bug fixes – so what time will the game be going down for maintenance? The latest Fortnite update is poised to arrive following a new round of downtime, with high expectations for a wealth of unannounced content. Fortnite has been basking in a surge of fresh content recently, arriving at such a pace that it would be easy to assume frequent updates were being rolled out. However, this hasn't been the case. Epic Games' summer break has been ongoing since June, allowing the diligent developers behind Fortnite some well-deserved rest, and the average player was likely none the wiser. The introduction of Blitz Royale mode and Squid Grounds Reload takeover more than satisfied fans, but now, there's plenty more on the horizon. The forthcoming Fortnite update promises to bring new content to the game, along with a host of much-needed bug fixes to keep the game running smoothly. So when exactly does the downtime commence? Here's what you need to know about the impending Fortnite downtime. Introducing All Out Gaming Introducing All Out Gaming, a dedicated gaming brand providing the best gaming news, reviews, previews, interviews and more! Make sure you don't miss out on our latest high-quality videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, where we'll be posting our latest reviews, previews, interviews, and live streams! You can also subscribe to our free All Out Gaming newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. Is Fortnite down? Fortnite downtime is slated to start on Tuesday, July 15 at 1am PDT / 4am EDT / 9am BST. This timing has been confirmed in a recent tweet from @FortniteStatus, aligning with the downtimes of updates 36.10 and update 35.10. Updates have typically lasted between two and three hours recently, so we can anticipate that the upcoming downtime will conclude by 4am PDT / 7am EDT / 12pm BST at the latest. Fortnite early patch notes If you're keen to discover what's in store for the next Fortnite update, your best bet is to visit the Fortnite community Trello board. This is where the developers keep players in the loop about upcoming bug fixes. Here's everything tagged as 'Fixed in Next Game Update' on the Trello board, spanning various modes: General issues Nanite Buzzsaw may appear incorrectly to others – When a player equips the Nanite Buzzsaw Pickaxe for the first time in a match, it may briefly appear distorted or misplaced to other players. Lego Fortnite Save the World Chests and other containers may appear already opened or empty in Hit the Road – Searchable containers (chests, toolboxes or storage boxes) may appear already opened and/or contain no loot. Interacting with these containers will still award Cassette Tapes. Considering the amount of time many developers have had away from the game, it's a relatively brief list. However, we anticipate the forthcoming update will bring a host of additional fixes as the Epic Games team gets back on track. Regardless, we'll gladly welcome any fixes over none at all.
Time Business News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
KPIs That Reveal True Hybrid Team Performance
How do you know your hybrid team is actually performing well? Not by guessing or tracking hours worked but by looking at the right key performance indicators (KPIs). With hybrid work becoming the new norm, companies are shifting focus from hours worked to impact delivered. But measuring performance in a hybrid setup isn't as simple as tracking log-in times or checking task completion. It requires identifying the right key performance indicators (KPIs) that go beyond surface-level activity and highlight true productivity. In this post, we'll explore how to measure KPI for employees in hybrid environments, which KPIs matter most when assessing team performance, how to track them, and how they can help managers improve collaboration, accountability, and output across in-office and remote teams. Why Traditional KPIs Don't Work for Hybrid Teams Most legacy KPIs built for office-first environments were visibility equaled productivity. But in hybrid setups, team members split time between home and office, using digital tools to stay connected. As a result, tracking presence alone doesn't reflect contributions. For example, a hybrid employee might attend all meetings and respond quickly to messages but still struggle with focus and output. On the other hand, someone who works asynchronously may not be visibly active during the day but consistently delivers high-quality work. That's why modern teams need smarter, more outcome-focused KPIs to accurately reflect hybrid productivity. 1. Project Delivery Rate This KPI tracks how consistently hybrid team members complete projects on time and within scope. It reflects planning, execution, and follow-through critical indicators of overall hybrid team performance. How to track it: Set clear project deadlines and deliverables Use project management tools (like Asana or Jira) to monitor completion rates Compare timelines against expectations In hybrid models, deadlines hold the team together. High delivery rates suggest your hybrid team is aligned, accountable, and able to collaborate well, even from different locations. 2. Task Completion Rate vs. Assignment Ratio This metric compares the number of tasks assigned to a team member against the number they complete on time. It helps managers understand both workload balance and execution. How to track it: Use time tracking and task assignment software like Trello or ClickUp Calculate the ratio monthly for individuals and the team overall It prevents overloading certain members and identifies if hybrid employees are struggling with distractions, unclear priorities, or lack of support. Example: If an employee completes 10 out of 15 assigned tasks, the completion rate is 66%. If this pattern repeats, it may signal the need for time management training or role clarity. 3. Average Response Time on Communication Channels This KPI tracks how quickly team members respond to internal messages across Slack, Teams, or email. While it doesn't indicate performance alone, it reveals how engaged and available a hybrid employee is. How to track it: Analyze timestamps using internal analytics from collaboration tools Set benchmarks based on the urgency of different communication types In a hybrid setup, communication breakdowns can derail productivity. Faster responses often lead to smoother workflows, especially when collaboration is needed across time zones. 4. Meeting Participation and Engagement It goes beyond mere attendance. This KPI measures how actively team members contribute during virtual or in-person meetings. How to track it: Record participation frequency and quality of input (note contributions or questions raised) Use tools like Zoom analytics or meeting feedback surveys Engaged team members are often better aligned with team goals. In hybrid teams, this KPI helps spot disengagement early and ensures voices are being heard regardless of work location. Rotate who leads meetings to increase inclusivity and participation across hybrid employees. 5. Quality of Work Delivered This KPI measures how well tasks are executed, not just if they're done. Quality can be judged by adherence to brand standards, technical accuracy, and peer reviews. How to track it: Conduct regular quality checks or audits Collect internal client or stakeholder feedback Compare output to predefined success criteria Hybrid employees have autonomy, but that only works if the work meets expectations. High output with poor quality is a red flag, and this KPI ensures excellence isn't lost in flexibility. 6. Employee Net Promoter Score (e-NPS) A reflection of employee satisfaction and loyalty, e-NPS asks a simple question: 'How likely are you to recommend this company as a great place to work?' It's scored from -100 to +100. How to track it: Use anonymous surveys quarterly Compare results between remote, in-office, and hybrid employees Hybrid team performance is directly tied to morale. A low e-NPS may hint at isolation, unclear expectations, or burnout in hybrid work structures. 7. Employee Utilization Rate This KPI measures how much of an employee's available time is spent on billable or productive tasks. It's a common metric in professional services and project-based industries. How to track it: Use time tracking tools like wAnywhere, Harvest, or Hubstaff. Compare tracked hours with standard working hours In hybrid setups, it's easy for passive time (like waiting for responses) to creep in. Tracking utilization helps optimize schedules and keeps productivity high. Be careful not to overemphasize this metric. Too high a rate may mean employees are overworked, which can lead to burnout. 8. Turnover Rate in Hybrid Teams This KPI reflects how many employees leave your hybrid team within a specific time frame. It's a strong indicator of satisfaction, culture fit, and work-life balance. How to track it: Calculate: (Number of departures ÷ average team size) × 100 Track quarterly or annually High turnover in hybrid teams may signal unclear expectations, lack of inclusion, or challenges with remote support. Keeping this number low is crucial for team stability. Track ROI with a Free Hybrid Work Calculator Still unsure if hybrid work is paying off? Numbers don't lie. A dedicated ROI calculator helps you understand if your hybrid policy is delivering results, financially and operationally. With a free hybrid work ROI calculator, you can measure: Changes in productivity levels Impact of reduced absenteeism Value of increased employee retention These insights make it easier to justify hybrid policies to leadership and optimize your strategy. Example: A company with 100 employees switching to a hybrid model saved $250,000 annually by reducing real estate expenses and improving employee output. Use the calculator to run similar scenarios for your team. Final Thoughts Measuring hybrid team performance goes beyond checking boxes. It's about aligning goals, improving output, and supporting every employee, no matter where they work. By focusing on the KPIs that actually reveal performance, you create a workplace culture built on trust and results. And when you pair those KPIs with tools like a hybrid work ROI calculator, you get the full picture of your team's value financially and strategically. Ready to assess your hybrid strategy? Start with the right KPIs and let data guide the way. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
How Small Businesses in the USA Save 70% Costs with Pakistani Virtual Assistants
Small business owners are always looking for ways to cut costs, and stay frugal when it comes to purchasing products and services that they use in the day-to-day operation of their companies. Hiring virtual assistants from Pakistan is one of the best techniques that is in demand. It's a huge money saver while still allowing both efficiency and professionalism. We offer virtual assistant solutions that are used and loved by businesses in real estate, e-commerce, healthcare and more of today's fastest-growing industries. Our expert VAs bring efficiency to business operations through customer support, data entry, lead generation, social media management, among others to free business owners' time, reduce costs and concentrate on scaling their business. The Pakistani virtual assistants come with a perfect blend of resources, trust, value, and affordability. Here is what small business owners enjoy when they hire remote virtual assistants: Highly Educated Talent Many VAs have degrees in business, IT, marketing, and more. Many VAs have degrees in business, IT, marketing, and more. Strong English Proficiency Excellent communication skills help eliminate language barriers. Excellent communication skills help eliminate language barriers. Tech-Savvy Workforce Experience using tools such as Trello, Slack, QuickBooks, Canva and the like. Experience using tools such as Trello, Slack, QuickBooks, Canva and the like. Cultural Compatibility Pakistani VAs understand Western work culture and business practices. These qualities will make outsourcing Pakistan virtual assistant services an intelligent choice for small businesses on tight budget seeking top-notch support services. The biggest driver for outsourcing is saving up to 70% on costs. Here's a breakdown comparing US-based VAs to those in Pakistan: Expense Category US-Based VA Cost Pakistani VA Cost Approx. Savings Hourly Rate $15 – $25 $4 – $8 65% – 80% Benefits & Taxes Included Not Typically Required Significant Office Space & Utilities Included Remote Setup High Training & Equipment On-Site Self-Managed Moderate Pro Tip: Hiring a cheap virtual assistant in Pakistan cuts out the overhead expense such as insurance, leave and office infrastructure, leaving you to reinvest in the business. The following are some of the services provided by Pakistani VAs: Administrative Support : Data entry, Maintaining calendar and email support : Data entry, Maintaining calendar and email support Customer Service : Responding to phone calls, emails and live chat support : Responding to phone calls, emails and live chat support Social Media Management : Content creation post scheduling and engagement tracking : Content creation post scheduling and engagement tracking Bookkeeping & Accounting : Recording invoices and maintaining expenses : Recording invoices and maintaining expenses Market Research: Competitor analysis trend reports and data gathering This work enables small business in the USA to save time and focus on strategic growth. Here is a step-by-step guide how to outsource your very first virtual assistant in Pakistan: Define Your Requirements – Compile a list of daily or routine tasks to offload. Choose a Platform or Agency – Use vetted services like Upwork or professional agencies. Interview Candidates – Assess communication, skills, and cultural fit. Start a Trial – Begin with a short-term contract or sample task. Onboard Properly – Provide SOPs, training videos, and tools. Manage Remotely – Use tools like Zoom, Asana, Slack for ongoing collaboration. This structured process ensures you outsource to Pakistan virtual assistant teams with minimal risk and high returns. 'Hiring a Pakistani virtual assistant transformed my business operations. I reduced costs significantly without losing productivity.' – Small Business Owner, Texas, USA Some small business owners hesitate due to misconceptions. Here's how to tackle them: Time Zone Issues : Pakistani VAs often work US hours. : Pakistani VAs often work US hours. Quality of Work : Reputable agencies rigorously screen and train VAs. : Reputable agencies rigorously screen and train VAs. Data Security : Use NDAs, secure tools like LastPass, and encrypted communication. : Use NDAs, secure tools like LastPass, and encrypted communication. Communication Gaps: Regular video calls and updates eliminate confusion. Once these concerns are addressed, businesses confidently outsource virtual assistants to save money without quality compromises. While cost is a key benefit, there are more reasons to hire virtual assistants in Pakistan: Access to Global Talent at local prices at local prices Scalability during busy periods or project launches during busy periods or project launches Extended Operational Hours thanks to time zone differences thanks to time zone differences Greater Attention to Core Business Operations If you're a small business owner in the USA looking for skilled and affordable help a Pakistani virtual assistant will be a game changer for you. At a fraction of the cost (up to 70% savings), with a highly educated workforce, and flexibility with how work is completed, everyone wins with this modern model of business growth. Outsource smartly. Save money. Scale faster. Use trusted platforms like XYZ (or your agency name) to connect with experienced, affordable virtual assistants from Pakistan. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
