How Delegating Can Transform Your Business

Posted on October 8, 2024 

Growing up in a home where everything was always easy and organized, each person had their assigned chores which made life simple, fun and relaxing. There was always time for leisure and family events.

Becoming an adult I transitioned into self-reliance, working solo and thought everything had to be done by ME!

I had no more freedom of time and work-life balance, instead I found myself with insufficient time, burnt out and stressed. It took me a few years to realize I enjoyed my early years because my family worked together as a team, each doing their share of delegated tasks. This attribute I had to adopt to become more successful in my business. As a business owner, delegating tasks can lead to growth opportunities. Delegation is not hard - it's just a mind-set.

I think these are the top three challenges faced when to delegate tasks: 

1.Fear of losing control: This is the feeling that no one else can do the job as well, concerns about potential errors, poor quality of work and missed deadlines. This often results in a tighter micromanagement.

2. Perfectionism: Having high standards and fear that the deliverables of delegated tasks will not be meet required standards. There's a desire that everything needs to be perfect which can prevent delegating tasks to others, even if it would save time and strategic focus on the business.

3. Lack of trust: This is the hesitation to delegate due to a lack of trust in the person's abilities or decision-making skills. It can be derived from limited delegation experience, entrepreneurial mindset or the ability to share tasks effectively.

On the flip side, there are great benefits derived from delegation which I discovered later than sooner, such as increased productivity, the ability to focus on high priority activities while others handle more routine work. Basically getting more done in less time.

Improved focus on strategic goals, this is having the time to plan, strategize and implement actions to improve business growth while your daily tasks are still being handled. For example, you can focus on elevating your branding and marketing strategies while routine tasks are carried out through delegation.

Delegation is a powerful way to leverage your time and get help in areas of your business where you might not have expertise. Done well, it can be a big win for you and your business. Consider these tips as you become a delegating expert.

• Identify tasks suitable for delegation: These should be routine, time-consuming tasks that don't require your direct input. A few of these are social media management, calendar management and email management.

• Research: Find the right person with the skills and potential to handle the tasks. Make sure they have the resources to succeed. For example, if you're delegating the set up of your newsletter, find someone with experience with Mailchimp or a similar software platform.

• Provide clear instruction: “Can you handle this?” is not enough information for the person you’re delegating to – even if it’s a simple task and (in your mind) self-explanatory. Include details, timelines and any supporting information. For example: “I’m ready to publish my next newsletter. Attached is the Word document and the images I’d like to use. Can we schedule it for this Friday at 6:00 am?” Be thorough - include deadlines and guidelines for how you’d like the work to be done.

• Monitor progress and offer feedback: If you’ve delegated a project, schedule check-in points for milestones to make sure things stay on track. Sometimes there can be misunderstandings about the required tasks, even when you both think you understand. Regular updates allow for early correction opportunities.

• Establish a communicative relationship:  Working with someone means you are in a relationship with them. I don’t mean you need to be BFFs, but simple gestures like saying, “Thank you – great job,” or “How was your weekend?” will go a long way. Be sure to answer questions about the project promptly so that it stays on track. Your work together will require conversation – either written or verbal.

In most cases, the person assisting you wants to do a good job. If that’s not happening, revisit these points to identify where things might be going off track. 

By delegating some areas of your business where you might not have expertise or the time, you are setting your business for long term growth and transformation. Thumbs up on your journey to becoming a delegation expert!